Novak Djokovic was taking in the glory after his first-round win at the Italian Open, signing souvenirs for fans when something extremely concerning happened. As he was taking time to sign fans’ stuff, a metal water bottle seemed to be dropped by someone in the stands. The bottle flew right into Djokovic’s head, causing him visible pain instantaneously.
Novak Djokovic was seen clutching his head as he knelt on the ground in pain for a prolonged period. It indicated that the hit may have caused some serious issues like a concussion.
Novak Djokovic was hit on the head (via IMAGO/X)
Officials rushed to his aid, unsure of what happened and what they could do to help. His exact state remains unclear as no official announcement seems to have been made yet. Reports suggest that he has been transported to a medical center where he is dealing with nausea and headaches, but is feeling alright.
Novak Djokovic got off to a strong start at the Italian Open
Novak Djokovic blitzed past Frenchman Corentin Moutet in his first match in over a month. The Serb started his Rome campaign strongly.
He had little work to do in the first set, taking it comfortably with a scoreline of 6-3. The next set was a breeze for the Serb, as he dropped just one game, eventually going on to win the match, 6-3, 6-1.
Djokovic will now take on Alejandro Tabilo in the second round. The Chilean is coming off a straight-set win over Yannick Hanfmann.
