Defending champion Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the French Open before his quarter-final with a knee injury.

Serbia’s Djokovic had a scan for the injury today which revealed a “torn medial meniscus” in his right knee, having blamed the “slippery” Roland Garros clay courts for aggravating the problem during his fourth-round victory on Monday.

The 37-year-old top seed was due to play Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud in the last eight tomorrow Wednesday, but the injury has ended his hopes of winning a 25th Grand Slam title – which would be an outright all-time record – on the Paris clay.

It remains to be seen if he will able to regain fitness in time for the grass-court Wimbledon championships which start on July 1, where he is a seven-time champion.