New Telegraph 
Defending champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open before his quarter-final with a knee injury. Serbia’s Djokovic had a scan on the injury yesterday, having blamed the “slippery” Roland Garros clay courts for aggravating the problem during his fourth-round victory on Monday.
The top seed announced his withdrawal from the Grand Slam tournament on Tuesday. The 37-year-old was due to play Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud in the last eight on Wednesday. The scan revealed Djokovic had a torn medial meniscus in his right knee. “I am really sad to announce that I have to withdraw,” Djokovic said. “My team and I had to make a tough decision after careful consideration and consultation.”
The injury has ended his hopes of winning a 25th Grand Slam title – which would be an outright record – on the Paris clay. Djokovic will also lose his status as the world number one and be replaced by Italy’s Jannik Sinner after the French Open.
