French Open withdrawal, knee injury threaten to derail Novak Djokovic's season

The 2024 event will now be the first time the event at Roland-Garros will have a winner other than Djokovic or Rafael Nadal since 2015 when Stan Wawrinka took the crown. Djokovic and Nadal have won 17 of the last 19 singles championships at the French Open dating back to the "King of Clay's" first title in 2005, with the "Joker" winning three and Nadal taking home 14.

While Nadal's career is seemingly coming to a close, Djokovic is still among the best in the sport, but his latest injury could threaten to derail his 2024 season.

According to a report from The Athletic, the French Tennis Federation and Roland Garros issued a statement stating that Djokovic suffered a "torn medial meniscus" in his knee.

The report added that while he was able to push through his round of 16 matchup against Cerundolo on "painkillers and adrenaline, the extent of the problem is too great for him to continue."

It's been a painful spring for Djokovic, as he was also accidentally struck by and knocked down by a metal water bottle following a second-round victory at the Italian Open in May.

Djokovic could opt to combine rest and rehab leading up to the season's next major (Wimbledon), which begins on July 1, but if he elects to undergo surgery, that would almost surely rule him out for the competition at the All England Club. Furthermore, his attempt to win his first Olympic gold medal would likely have to wait, as the Summer Games in Paris begin on July 26.

The world No. 1 won his only Olympic medal during the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, taking home a bronze.

Even the season's final major would probably be out of the question for Djokovic if he goes under the knife, as the U.S. Open is scheduled for Aug. 18 to Sept. 8.