Former ATP star Nicolas Almagro has warned Novak Djokovic he has to be “very careful” with his recovery from the meniscus tear he suffered at the French Open.
The Spaniard explained that a meniscus injury contributed to his retirement and also highlighted the fact a similar injury effectively ended Roger Federer’s career.
Djokovic tore the medial meniscus in his right knee when he slipped on the court during the second set of his fourth round match against Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros.
The 37-year-old remarkably came back from two sets to one down to defeat the Argentine, but he was forced to withdraw before his quarter-final clash with Casper Ruud.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion swiftly underwent surgery on his right knee, casting doubt over his participation at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships and the Paris Olympics.
However, Djokovic shared footage of him training in the gym yesterday, just over a week after the surgery, raising hopes he may return to action sooner than anticipated.
Novak Djokovic issues ‘progress’ update: Will he stun medical experts and play at Wimbledon?
Almagro sustained a serious meniscus injury at the 2017 French Open and had three surgeries on his knee before he retired less than two years later at the age of 33. After the injury, the former world No 9 played just 12 more matches and was never the same player.
During his role as a commentator for Eurosport during Roland Garros, Almagro likened the injury Djokovic suffered in Paris to his own.
“I tore my meniscus in a very similar situation. The gestures I made were very similar to those of Djokovic. It didn’t seem like anything, but when I stood up, I felt very unstable and couldn’t continue,” he recalled.
“As I saw it, it was clear to me that it was the meniscus. But then I saw him so good in the last set that I began to doubt. Because I couldn’t move and he was as if nothing had happened.”
In an interview with Relevo, Almagro pointed out the difference between Djokovic’s injury and the one he sustained, while he also urged the tennis great to be cautious.
“I think the difference is that I broke it and that he has a tear, but even so he has to be very careful because it seems like a simple injury but it is not,” the 13-time ATP titlist explained.
“I walked out of the hospital after the first operation, but when I came back I saw that things were not going well, so I had another operation after the US Open and once again at Christmas.
“Everything has deadlines. Mine was between two and three months, because the knee has to heal and it has to fit.
“Djokovic has to have a piece of meniscus removed during the arthroscopy, then everything has to fit well and then you have to strengthen all the muscles of the knee.
“I wouldn’t say I retired because of the injury, but after the injury. That helped, of course, but it’s true that I gained more weight, my knee began to suffer and priorities changed.
“I think he won’t be at Wimbledon and we’ll see how he fares for the Games if he does [play]. He doesn’t have to be in a hurry because although it seems like an easy injury, it’s not.
“Look, Roger, he had a similar injury and he had knee surgery, it was going to last a month and in the end he retired. It’s apparently simple, but you have to be careful so that things don’t get complicated.”
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