World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, sustained during his five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo on Monday. This development paves the way for Jannik Sinner to become the first Italian man to achieve the No. 1 ranking.
Sinner will become the 29th player to hold the world No. 1 spot since the ATP rankings were established.
Djokovic, who was aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, was scheduled to face Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Ruud will now advance via walkover and will compete against either Alexander Zverev or Alex De Minaur in the next round.
“I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw from #rolandgarros,” Djokovic shared on Instagram. “I played with my heart and gave my all in yesterday’s match and unfortunately, due to a medial meniscus tear in my right knee, my team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”
He added, “I wish the best of luck to the players competing this week and sincerely thank the incredible fans for all of the love and continued support. See you soon. With love and gratitude, Nole.”
Jannik Sinner expressed mixed feelings about the situation: “First of all, it’s everyone’s dream to become No. 1 in the world. However, seeing Novak retire is disappointing for everyone. I wish him a speedy recovery.”