Novak Djokovic has surgery and 'will miss Wimbledon' after French Open injury

Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon hopes appear to have been slashed.

French Open Tennis Tournament. Roland-Garros 2024.

Novak Djokovic looks set to miss Wimbledon. (Image: Getty)

Novak Djokovic is facing a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon after reportedly deciding to undergo surgery for a meniscus tear.

Despite progressing into the quarter-finals, the Serb announced his early exit from the French Open on Tuesday.

Citing a knee injury for his early exit, attention immediately turned to the two biggest tennis events of the summer - Wimbledon and the Olympics.

While hope remains that Djokovic will be fit enough to return to Paris for the Olympics in August, it's reported the 24-time Grand Slam winner could be ruled out of Wimbledon.

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That's according to L'Equipe, who report the 37-year-old has opted to undergo surgery in the French capital following his Roland Garros exit.

A timescale for Djokovic's return hasn't been announced, but it's expected the procedure will keep him out of the summer Grand Slam in London, which gets underway in less than one month's time.

The surgery isn't believed to have been a complex one, with Djokovic likely to be up and about a few hours after going under the needle.

Which is why confidence is said to be high in the Djokovic camp that a return to action can come in time for the Olympics later this year.

French Open Tennis Tournament. Roland-Garros 2024.

Novak Djokovic was in visible pain during Monday's game. (Image: Getty)

Djokovic has never won Olympic gold, with the tennis ace having pencilled in the Games as a priority earlier this year.

Speaking in April, Djokovic said: "The Paris Olympics are very important - the Olympics have always been a priority for me.

"But in the last three or four Olympics, it's not been possible for me to reach the later stages [the final].

"The situation is a bit different now. We are playing our first Olympics on clay. I want to be ready physically and mentally."

Back at the French Open though and Djokovic's retirement has blown the competition wide open, with a new name set to lift the trophy this year.

It will mark just the second time since 2004 that someone other than Djokovic, Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer wins the competition.

Jannik Sinner has emerged as one of the major favourites, with the Italian also set to inherit the world No.1 spot off Djokovic next week.

Sinner has been paired against familiar foe Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, whereas Casper Ruud will take on either Alexander Zverev or Alex de Minaur.

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