Novak Djokovic withdrew from the French Open with an injured proper knee on June 4, 2024, ending his title protection and that means he’ll relinquish the No. 1 rating.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Novak Djokovic’s French Open title defence ended with a whimper following the highest seed’s withdrawal resulting from a proper knee drawback whereas Jannik Sinner celebrated his imminent takeover as world primary with a crushing win over Grigor Dimitrov on June 4.
There was no drama on the ladies’s facet as holder Iga Swiatek continued her quest for a fourth Roland Garros trophy by hitting high gear throughout a 6-0 6-2 victory over 2019 runner-up Marketa Vondrousova to additionally attain the semifinals.
American third seed Coco Gauff earlier fought again to beat fan-favourite Ons Jabeur 4-6 6-2 6-3 and can tackle Swiatek in a tantalising rematch of their 2022 closing, which the Pole received.
Roland Garros was rocked in direction of the top of Sinner’s routine win as organisers introduced that Djokovic had withdrawn from his 2023 closing rematch with seventh seed Casper Ruud within the last-eight on June 5.
It meant that Sinner, who ended Djokovic’s quest for an eleventh Australian Open title en path to his first Grand Slam trophy in January, can even take his high rating subsequent Monday and turn out to be the primary Italian to take action.
Djokovic wanted a superhuman effort and 5 units to subdue Argentine Francisco Cerundolo on Monday after being dragged the gap for a second straight contest and the Serb aggravated the damage he had been carrying by slipping on court docket.
The French Open mentioned MRI outcomes revealed that Djokovic, who performed on with pain-killers, had suffered a torn medial meniscus that prompted him to take the choice.
It was the most recent in a collection of unlucky occasions for the 37-year-old, who received three out of the 4 majors final 12 months however has appeared off the tempo this season, with defeats and an damage threatening his bid for Wimbledon and Paris Olympics glory.
At the same time as Djokovic arrived at Roland Garros to wash out his locker, Sinner was easing to a 6-2 6-4 7-6(3) win over Dimitrov and the 22-year-old mentioned he had achieved a lifelong dream, even when it was not the way in which he anticipated to.
“What can I say? Initially it is each participant’s dream to be primary. Alternatively, seeing Novak retiring right here is, for everybody, disappointing. I want him a fast restoration,” Sinner mentioned.
The Australian Open champion might face a doubtlessly difficult check towards two-times Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz or former Roland Garros runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas who face off later.
