Novak Djokovic head harm: 24-time Grand Slam winner suffers upset loss after getting hit with bottle

Novak Djokovic noticed an surprising Spherical of 32 exit within the Italian Open on Sunday, as he fell to Alejandro Tabilo by a rating of 2-6, 3-6. The upset got here simply two days after Djokovic was by accident hit on the pinnacle by a water bottle, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion is anxious the incident is affecting him greater than anticipated.

“At present below excessive stress, it was fairly dangerous,” Djokovic stated in the course of the post-match press convention. “Not by way of ache, however by way of this stability. Simply no coordination. Fully totally different participant from what it was two nights in the past.

“I do not know. I’ve to do medical checkups and see what is going on on.”

After Friday’s straight set victory over Corentin Moutet, Djokovic was signing autographs when somebody within the stands dropped a metallic bottle on him. Djokovic fell to the bottom and grabbed his head, staying there for a big period of time earlier than getting accompanied to the locker room. 

Djokovic later tried to reassure followers he was doing high-quality whereas resting in his resort with an ice pack. On Saturday morning, he made gentle of the scenario by displaying as much as coaching with a biking helmet. 

Nonetheless, it appears what Djokovic was going by means of this weekend was greater than only a easy headache.

“That has actually impacted me so much. After that I bought medical care, been by means of half an hour, an hour of nausea, dizziness and blood,” Djokovic stated. “I managed to sleep OK. I had complications. The subsequent day, or yesterday, was fairly high-quality, so I assumed it is OK. Possibly it’s OK, possibly it isn’t.”

The timing of the harm just isn’t ideally suited with the French Open most important occasion beginning Could 26. 

The Italian Open additionally noticed an early exit from Rafael Nadal, who suffered a 1-6, 3-6 loss to Hubert Hurkacz within the Spherical of 64. The 22-Grand Slam champion has handled quite a few accidents and is predicted to retire after 2024, however he’s “leaning in direction of” taking part in at Roland-Garros.