“There is a risk of my withdrawing” – Djokovic awaiting scan results on knee issue

Novak Djokovic has admitted he may consider withdrawing from Roland-Garros if scans show serious damage to the right knee he injured during his round-of-16 match against Francisco Cerundolo.

In comments to the Serbian press, the world No 1 made it clear that it was not pain that would prevent his participation, but the possibility of incurring more severe injury if he played on.

“I don’t want to get into too much detail (about the state of my knee), I don’t feel it’s appropriate to share it with you guys,” he said. “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 (of the MRI). 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, it’s a whole different approach and method of recovery.”

Earlier, Djokovic had said in his press conference that he had been feeling slight discomfort in his knee in recent weeks, but that it was exacerbated by a fall on the Roland-Garros clay early in the second set against Cerundolo.

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