Djokovic surgery doesn’t slow Wimbledon run; what surgery did Novak have?

Novak Djokovic, perhaps the most elite professional tennis player considering his Grand Slam totals, had knee surgery in late July.

On Sunday, he’ll play for his record-shattering 25th Grand Slam title and his eighth Wimbledon win.

A three-week recovery from a partial meniscectomy is impressive for anyone. Recovering and then playing for a prestigious title is nearly unthinkable.

What is a partial meniscectomy?

A partial meniscectomy is a surgery to fix a torn meniscus in the knee, the piece of cartilage that cushions the bones in the knee. When it gets torn, it can hurt and make it hard to move.

Tennis places significant demands on the knees, including the meniscus. 

Those stresses include, quick starts and stops, side-to-side movement, jumping, landing, twisting and running.

In the surgery, a doctor makes small cuts around the knee and uses a tiny camera to see inside. They remove the torn parts of the meniscus but leave the healthy parts. This helps reduce pain and improve how the knee works.

After the surgery, patients usually do physical therapy to get their strength and movement back. Most people can go back to their usual activities in a few weeks to a few months.

Djokovic will battle the world’s No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz just 37 days after surgery.