Novak Djokovic experienced an unexpected incident at the Italian Open on Friday night, inadvertently struck by a water bottle while signing autographs following his victory over Corentin Moutet in the second round.
The world No. 1 tennis player was signing autographs for fans when a metal bottle accidentally fell from a spectator’s backpack, striking Djokovic on the head as he was leaving the court.
New angle, all clear now, Novak is fine 👇 pic.twitter.com/LWhhpTN0DY
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) May 10, 2024
In distress, Djokovic fell to the ground, prompting concern among onlookers. Ground staff quickly attended to him, and he was escorted off the court for medical evaluation.
Initially, speculation arose that the bottle may have been thrown intentionally, but video footage revealed it slipped from a spectator’s backpack while attempting to get Djokovic’s attention.
The tournament organizers confirmed the incident, stating, “Novak Djokovic on leaving the Central court at the end of his match was hit on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs to spectators.” They assured Djokovic received appropriate medical attention and left the venue for his hotel, with no significant concerns for his well-being.
Djokovic later addressed the incident on social media platform X, expressing gratitude for the messages of concern and reassuring fans of his well-being. “This was an accident, and I am fine resting at the hotel with an ice pack. See you all on Sunday,” he stated.
With the incident behind him, Djokovic continues his preparations for the French Open, aiming to add to his six Italian Open titles before pursuing his quest for a Grand Slam victory at Roland Garros in Paris. His upcoming match is slated against Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the third round on Sunday.
