Novak Djokovic suffers SHOCK straight-sets defeat in Italian Open and is set to undergo medical tests…days after being struck in the head by a bottle dropped by a fan in the crowd
- Djokovic crashed out of the Italian Open after losing in straight sets to Alejandro Tabilo
- Six-time champion was hit by a bottle of water after winning in the final round
- He made 22 unforced errors and served five double faults in sloppy play
A ‘worried’ Novak Djokovic will undergo medical tests after feeling the effects of a blow to the head from a bottle during his shock exit from the Italian Open.
Djokovic was defeated 6-2 6-3 by Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in just 67 minutes in Rome. The six-time champion made 22 unforced errors, served five double faults and failed to create a single break point.
The one-sided loss came two days after Djokovic fell to the ground after being hit by a bottle that fell from a spectator’s backpack as the world number one signed autographs following his victory over Corentin Moutet.
“I think you saw it very clearly in the video,” Djokovic said after his defeat to Tabilo.
“It was a very unfortunate, unfortunate situation for me. It was an accident where the guy leaned over the fence and the bottle fell out of his backpack and landed directly on my head.
Six-time champion Novak Djokovic had to shockingly retire from the Italian Open on Sunday
The 36-year-old was uncharacteristically sloppy, falling 6-2 6-3 to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in just 67 minutes.
Djokovic was hit by a water bottle on Friday after beating Corentin Moutet at the Italian Open
‘It was obviously unexpected. I didn’t even look up. Then I felt a very strong blow to my head. That, yes, really had a big impact on me. I suffered from nausea, dizziness, blood, a lot of different things for half an hour, an hour.
‘I was able to sleep well. I had a headache. The next day it went pretty well, so I thought it was okay. Maybe it’s okay. Maybe not.
“I mean, the way I felt on the field today was completely like another player stepping into my shoes. Just no rhythm, no pace, no balance on any shot.
‘It’s a bit worrying. I haven’t done any scans or tests. Right now I feel like I have to do it, so I’ll do it and let’s see. Let’s see what happens.’
The tone for the match was set early when Djokovic saved three break points in the opening game, two with aces and the third with a sublime drop shot from behind the baseline, only to serve a double fault after Tabilo created a fourth break point opportunity. .
Two brilliant winners then gave Tabilo a second break for 3-0 and the 26-year-old showed no sign of nerves as he served out the set with minimal fuss after just 31 minutes.
Fans expecting a determined response from Djokovic were in for a shock when he instead started the second set with consecutive double faults, losing his serve again, as the 24-time grand slam winner strangely breezed through his service games .
Tabilo continued to hold serve with ease and fittingly it was another double fault from Djokovic on the first match point that sealed the biggest win to date in the 29th seed’s career.
Twenty-ninth seed Tabilo claimed he couldn’t believe what had just happened after scoring the biggest win of his career
“I came onto the field and just looked around, tried to take it all in, tried to process it all and now I just can’t believe it. I’m trying to wake up now,” Tabilo said in an on-court interview on Sky Sports.
“I just tried to hold my nerves in and keep swinging. Obviously every time you feel like you’re closer to the end your arm starts to get a little tighter, so I just tried not to think about it, take it point by point and it’s crazy.
“I can’t believe what just happened.”