Ruud expects Djokovic to be at his best, but world No 1 is unsure

Novak Djokovic is unsure about the status of his knee heading into the Roland-Garros quarter-finals. However, Casper Ruud expects the Serb’s best.

Casper Ruud – Gepa / Panoramic

Ricky Dimon

June 4, 2024

Novak Djokovic battled into the Roland-Garros quarter-finals with back-to-back five-set victories — first over Lorenzo Musetti (in match that ended at 3:06 am) and then over Francisco Cerundolo.

Early in the second set against Cerundolo on Monday evening, Djokovic slipped on clay and suffered an apparent knee injury. The top seed eventually survived thanks in part to medication, but he is not positive about his status for Wednesday’s quarter-final showdown against Casper Ruud.

“I don’t want to get into too much detail (about the state of my knee),” Djokovic told the media. “I don’t feel it’s appropriate to share it with you guys. I hope to receive positive news tomorrow — tomorrow is the most important exam, the MRI. It will show the real state to see where we’re at.

“There is a risk of my withdrawing before the match depending on the results. Let’s see how much damage there is to the knee. It’s not in my hands anymore; I will pray. Yes, I will do some things to help speed up the recovery, but with the knee — being one of the most important joints for the movement — there is only so much one can do…. You can’t ‘avoid’ the knee. I’ve had muscle tears in Australia — stomach, thigh — you can tape it, do this and that, but the knee is a whole different approach and method of recovery.”

I don’t expect him to surrender at all. I have to expect him to be fresh, ready and that it’s going to be a tough match.
Casper Ruud

Ruud, of course, is expecting Djokovic to take the court — and expecting the best version of Djokovic, too.

“Physically he’s there,” the Norwegian said. “He’s strong. He never breaks down in a way. You feel sometimes that he will, but he never does. I think he’s shown that the last two matches playing over four hours and looking kind of down and out but coming back.

“I didn’t see much of what happened today, but I heard that he was down and even down a break in the fourth and came back from there. So he rises to the challenge whenever he needs to…. I don’t expect him to surrender at all. I have to expect him to be fresh, ready and that it’s going to be a tough match.

“It’s his body and obviously his choice. He will do whatever is right for him. Yeah, I mean if he steps on court on Wednesday it doesn’t change anything. It’s still a match to be played. He’s going to do his best to be ready, I’m sure. I’m going to do my best to beready.

“Obviously playing best-of-five sets is demanding for everyone. Like we’ve been talking about, he’s played nine hours the last two matches, so obviously it’s normal that some players will feel it a little extra. So hopefully he will be able to step on court. I think in the slams, in the quarterfinal, it’s a shame if there is no match, of course.

“I guess wait and see, but I will prepare like any other match and do my best to be ready myself.”