Novak Djokovic withdraws from French Open with knee injury

DOWN AND OUT: Serbia's Novak Djokovic slid to the net to play a shot during the fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo. Pic: Thibault Camus, AP

Defending champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open due to a knee injury.

The world number one aggravated the injury during his five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo on Monday.

Roland Garros organisers said: "Due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee (discovered during an MRI scan performed today), Novak Djokovic, who was supposed to play Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals tomorrow, has been forced to withdraw from the Roland-Garros tournament."

Norwegian seventh seed Ruud will therefore progress straight to the semi-finals.