“Novak needs his wheels,” Andy Roddick worried about Novak Djokovic’s comeback as he reckons the timing of his injury ‘sucks’

Novak Djokovic's availability for Wimbledon is in jeopardy as well.

“Novak needs his wheels,” Andy Roddick worried about Novak Djokovic’s comeback as he reckons the timing of his injury ‘sucks’

Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick (Via Imago)

Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick has expressed concerns about Novak Djokovic‘s meniscus injury and his timeline for recovery. The 24-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from the Roland Garros quarter-final against Casper Ruud due to knee problems he sustained in his fourth-round match against Francisco Cerundolo.

Speaking on his podcast, ‘Served with Andy Roddick,’ the 2003 US Open champion compared his torn meniscus with Djokovic’s knee issues. The American said that he tore his meniscus during his teen years but had time on his side to recover quickly.

YouTube video
This surgery, at least based on every kind I’ve seen and including my own, puts the Olympics out and puts Wimbledon seriously at risk. It’s not just a case of saying my knee is okay in a month because you have to train, especially Novak.
Andy Roddick said on his YouTube channel

Alongside the knee problems, Djokovic also had a bad fall in the fifth set of his fourth-round match. The Serbian stood and sarcastically applauded the officials for making the players compete in fragile conditions.

FS Video
Your special sauce is being able to grind people down, stay in rallies, move people from side to side and ask the question over and over again. Novak needs his wheels. He needs his defensive skills. He is probably the best defensive player in the history of tennis, and with defense, you rely on your legs.
Andy Roddick added

After Djokovic’s withdrawal, Ruud takes his spot in his third semi-final at Roland Garros, where he will play Alexander Zverev. The Norwegian will hope to make his third consecutive Roland Garros final.

What next for Novak Djokovic after Roland Garros withdrawal?

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic has undergone knee surgery and aims to return to the court as soon as possible. The recovery process is expected to last three weeks, potentially ruling him out of Wimbledon, starting on July 1st.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Via Imago)

The Serbian is a seven-time Wimbledon champion but lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz last year. That was the only defeat in Grand Slam events that he sustained in 2023.

Furthermore, Djokovic prioritizes winning Olympic gold this year. He lost in the silver medal match to Alexander Zverev in three sets in the 2021 Olympic Games. With his withdrawal, Italy’s Jannik Sinner is poised to take over as the World No. 1.

Moreover, Djokovic may face a loss in more ranking points in the next few months. He had a runner-up finish at Wimbledon last year and also a status as defending champion in Cincinnati and the US Open.

In case you missed it!