Novak Djokovic's courageous battle through knee pain at the French Open

Novak Djokovic admitted that he had doubts about finishing his long match against Francisco Cerúndolo at the French Open due to knee pain. Despite the challenge, Djokovic managed to win the match 6-1 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 in a thrilling contest against the Argentinian player, who is ranked 27th in the world.

This victory came after Djokovic's tough 3 a.m. finish against Lorenzo Musetti in the previous round, marking his second consecutive five-set match at the tournament.

The defending champion's victory against Cerúndolo ended earlier than expected, but the match itself lasted for four hours and 39 minutes. This win marked his 370th victory at a grand slam, surpassing Roger Federer's record for the most wins at major tournaments.

Despite showing incredible determination and resilience to come back and win after trailing by a set and a break, Djokovic revealed that he had concerns about pain in his right knee. He mentioned that the pain only subsided once his medication had taken effect.

I was unsure whether to keep going with what was happening," the Serbian world No. 1 admitted to reporters.

"I received some medication, and after the third set, I requested more which I received. I am grateful that I managed to play the fifth set and the last few games of the fourth set without the intense pain I had been feeling for the previous two and a half sets. However, the future is uncertain," said Djokovic.

Djokovic receives treatment to his knee during the victory against Cerúndolo.

Djokovic receives treatment to his knee during the victory against Cerúndolo.

Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

Djokovic dominated the first set and looked on course for a comfortable victory until he tweaked his knee at the start of the second set.

He kept on playing despite taking a medical timeout. However, he admitted that his movement was affected, especially when he had to quickly change direction or rush to the net to return a drop shot.

It wasn't until the end of the fourth set when Djokovic, who was eyeing a historic 25th grand slam singles title at the French Open, finally felt no pain and was able to elevate his performance.

A key moment in the match came when Cerúndolo broke his opponent's serve at 4-3 in the fourth set. This shift in momentum worked in his favor. Another break at 6-5 finished off an exciting set that lasted just over an hour, bringing the match to an even level.

2024.05.29 Paryz Tenis French Open Roland Garros 2024 Coco Gauff - Tamara Zidansek N/Z Coco Gauff Foto Pawel Andrachiewicz / PressFocus 2024.05.29 Paris Tennis French Open Roland Garros 2024 Coco Gauff - Tamara Zidansek Coco Gauff Photo Pawel Andrachiewicz / PressFocus(Sipa via AP Images)

On May 29, 2024, in Paris at the French Open Roland Garros 2024, Coco Gauff faced off against Tamara Zidansek. The match was captured in a photo by Pawel Andrachiewicz from PressFocus. Coco Gauff was in action at the tournament, showcasing her skills on the court. Pawel Andrachiewicz/Sipa USA/AP captured the intensity of the moment in their photograph.

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The deciding set started with both players exchanging breaks. However, Djokovic took the lead by breaking Cerúndolo at 4-3 and eventually won the match.

After the match, the 37-year-old mentioned that the persistent rain in Paris had made the courts unusually slippery. He had requested for the clay to be swept more frequently during the fourth-round game, but unfortunately, his request was denied.

Djokovic expressed his frustration to reporters, admitting that he had slipped numerous times during the match. He mentioned that while slipping on clay and grass is common for him, the frequency of slips during this particular match was unusual.

During a conversation with the chair umpire, Djokovic suggested that the court be swept more regularly to prevent further slipping incidents. He requested that the court be tended to not just at every changeover, but perhaps every second or third changeover. Unfortunately, his request was denied, as the chair umpire declined to make more frequent adjustments to the court maintenance schedule.

"Maybe this injury could have been avoided," he mentioned. "Perhaps if the court was taken care of more often during the set. That's all I really wanted."

CNN reached out to French Open organizers for additional comments.

After playing two tough matches, Djokovic will now be facing Norwegian player Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. This will be his first time playing back-to-back five-set matches at Roland Garros since 2012.

Editor's P/S:

Novak Djokovic's remarkable victory over Francisco Cerúndolo at the French Open was a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience. Despite experiencing knee pain that hindered his movement, Djokovic battled through four hours and 39 minutes of intense competition, overcoming a set and a break deficit to secure a thrilling five-set victory. This win marked a significant milestone in Djokovic's illustrious career, as he surpassed Roger Federer's record for the most grand slam wins.

However, Djokovic's triumph was not without its challenges. The persistent rain in Paris had made the courts unusually slippery, leading to numerous slips that Djokovic believes could have contributed to his knee injury. His request for the court to be swept more frequently was denied, highlighting the need for greater attention to player safety and court maintenance. As Djokovic prepares to face Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, it remains to be seen whether his knee pain will continue to be a factor or if he will be able to overcome this setback and continue his pursuit of a historic 25th grand slam singles title.