Novak Djokovic breaks silence after undergoing surgery as he makes statement on his tennis future

Novak Djokovic has spoken for the first time since undergoing surgery after the injury that forced him to withdraw from the 2024 French Open.

The tennis legend revealed the surgery “went well”, while he also expressed his intention to return to the court “as soon as possible.”

Djokovic suffered a meniscus tear in his right knee in the second set of his fourth round Roland Garros match against Francisco Cerundolo on Monday.

The 37-year-old showcased his trademark resilience to come back from two sets to one down to defeat the Argentine in five sets after four hour hours and 39 minutes.

The Serbian was due to face Casper Ruud in the French Open quarter-finals on Wednesday, but he pulled out due to the injury and subsequently had surgery on his knee in Paris.

Djokovic’s triumph against Cerundolo was the second consecutive five-set marathon he won after his third round victory over Lorenzo Musetti. The 24-time Grand Slam champion spent over nine hours on court across the two matches.

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As well as ending his Roland Garros title defence, Djokovic’s withdrawal confirmed he would lose the world No 1 ranking to Jannik Sinner when the ATP Rankings refresh next week.

In a post shared on his social media accounts on Thursday, Djokovic shared an update after his surgery and expressed that his love for tennis remains strong.

“In the past day, I had to make some tough decisions after sustaining a meniscus tear during my last match,” wrote the Serbian.

“I’m still processing it all but I am happy to update you that the surgery went well.

“I am so appreciative of the team of doctors who have been by my side, as well as the overwhelming support I have received from my fans.

“I’m going to do my best to be healthy and fit to return to the court as soon as possible.

“My love for this sport is strong and the desire to compete at the highest level is what keeps me going. Idemooo.”

The timing of Djokovic’s injury and the fact it required an operation means he faces a race to be fit for some huge upcoming events.

The 2024 Wimbledon Championships will begin on July 1, while the tennis tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics will get underway on July 27.

There are serious doubts over the seven-time Wimbledon champion’s chances of competing at the All England Club.

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