Djokovic was visibly frustrated with how slippery he was finding the surface on Court Philippe-Chatrier and asked for it to be swept more frequently. But the request was rejected.
"I started feeling the pain and asked for the physio treatment and the medical timeout and tried to take care of it. It did disrupt me definitely in play," Djokovic said Monday evening. "For two sets, two sets and a half, I didn't want to stay in the rally too long. Every time he would make sudden drop shots or change directions, I would not be feeling comfortable to do the running.
"At one point I didn't know, to be honest, whether I should continue or not with what's happening. I got the medications, and then after the third set was done, I asked for more medications, and I got them.
"That was the maximum dose that kicked in, as I heard now from doctor after 30 to 45 minutes, which was just about the time kind of end of the fourth when things started to really improve for me. I started to feel less limitations in my movement."
Down two sets to one and a break in the fourth set, Djokovic rallied to win the match, but he was left concerned with what long-term damage he had done to his knee in the process.