Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was signing autographs for fans after a match at the Italian Open when an aluminum-type bottle struck his head, causing him to fall to his knees, as reported by Fox News.
Djokovic, aged 36, received treatment for a head injury after the incident occurred following Corentin Moutet’s 6-3, 6-1 defeat on Friday. The sound of the bottle hitting both Djokovic and the ground reverberated through the arena, eliciting an audible gasp from the crowd.
The impact caused Djokovic to drop to his knees, where he remained for close to a minute, clutching his head before being assisted into the tunnel.
The Italian Open confirmed that Djokovic “received appropriate medical attention and has since left the Foro Italico to return to his hotel; his condition is not a cause for concern.”
An alternate perspective of the incident shows the bottle sliding out of a fan’s backpack before striking the tennis player’s head.
Despite sustaining a bump and a minor amount of bleeding, Djokovic did not require stitches, according to Alessandro Catapano, a spokesman for the Italian Tennis Federation.
“Nole was escorted to his hotel, and he appears to be okay. He was understandably upset, but he seems to be alright,” Catapano commented.
This match marked Djokovic’s first appearance in the tournament and his first match in nearly a month. He is currently gearing up to defend his title at the French Open, commencing on May 26th.
