Novak Djokovic has confirmed his knee surgery was successful and said he plans to return to competition “as soon as possible” after undergoing medical treatment shortly after withdrawing from the French Open with a torn medial meniscus.
“I had to make a difficult decision recently after tearing my meniscus in my last game.” Djokovic wrote on social media.“I’m still taking it all in, but the surgery went well and I’m so grateful to the team of doctors who supported me and the overwhelming support I’ve received from my fans.”
“I will do my best to stay healthy and in shape so I can return to the court as soon as possible. My love for this sport is strong and what drives me is the desire to compete at the highest level. Idemooo [Let’s go]”
The message was accompanied by a picture of Djokovic on crutches, standing alongside his wife Jelena and other team members, with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Djokovic injured his knee early in the second set of his French Open fourth-round match against Francisco Cernudolo on Monday. Despite the serious injury, the Serb recovered impressively to win the match after trailing 1-1 in the second set and being broken in the fourth.
Djokovic underwent surgery on his right knee on Wednesday morning in Paris after withdrawing from his quarterfinal against Kasper Ruud. The surgery will require at least three weeks of recovery and will most likely sideline him at this year’s Wimbledon, where he was trying to tie Roger Federer’s record of eight men’s singles titles at the tournament.
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Even if Djokovic recovers faster than expected and is fit enough to play in Wimbledon, which begins on July 1, he will likely prioritize preparation for the Olympics, which begin on the clay courts of Roland Garros on July 27. Changing courts so soon after an injury could lead to further injury.
In 2018, Djokovic was reluctant to undergo surgery after playing the first half of the season with an elbow injury. He later admitted to crying for days after the procedure that would have put him back on top of the sport. With the Olympics about seven weeks away, Djokovic needed to act fast.
An Olympic gold medal is the only notable singles achievement Djokovic has yet to win, and he has repeatedly said the Olympics and playing for his country are among his biggest goals this year. Djokovic hopes to be back to full fitness in time for next month’s tournament in Paris.
