Novak Djokovic’s Italian Open journey came to an unexpected halt as he faced a stunning defeat against 29th-seeded Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, admitted his performance was concerning, describing it as one of his worst displays at a tournament he typically excels in.
The Serbian player’s early exit followed a bizarre incident where he was accidentally struck on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs after his initial victory. Djokovic revealed experiencing headaches but initially believed he was fit to continue playing.
“I managed to sleep okay. I had headaches. The next day or yesterday was pretty fine, so I thought it’s okay. Maybe it is okay. Maybe it’s not,” Djokovic said.
“I mean, the way I felt on the court today was just completely like a different player entered into my shoes. Just no rhythm, no tempo, no balance whatsoever on any shot. It’s a bit concerning.”
However, Djokovic’s performance on the court against Tabilo painted a different picture. He struggled with rhythm, tempo, and balance throughout the match, losing in just 68 minutes with a score of 6-2, 6-3. The defeat marked Djokovic’s worst performance at the Italian Open, a tournament where he had previously dominated.
With this loss, Djokovic joined Rafael Nadal, the 10-time Rome champion, in an early exit from the tournament. Nadal had been defeated by Hubert Hurkacz in the third round.
Despite Djokovic’s assertion of being “fine” after the water bottle incident, his lackluster performance raised concerns about his readiness for the upcoming French Open. Djokovic acknowledged the need for medical checkups to assess his condition.
Djokovic’s defeat also highlighted his title drought this year, marking the first time since 2018 that he had reached May without a trophy. His next opponent, Tabilo, is set to face 16th-seeded Karen Khachanov in the following round.
In other matches, Alexander Zverev, the 2017 Rome champion, advanced to the next round, along with Grigor Dimitrov, Thiago Monteiro, and Taylor Fritz. In the women’s tournament, second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka progressed to the fourth round, while American Sofia Kenin faced an upset at the hands of Slovakian qualifier Rebecca Sramkova.
The Italian Open continues with compelling matchups as players vie for victory on the clay courts of Rome.
