Shock just two weeks before Roland-Garros: Novak Djokovic eliminated in the third round in Rome, "I was completely off my game."

Serbian Novak Djokovic raises concerns... ©AFP or licensors

 

Novak Djokovic acknowledged that his mishap on Friday, where he was struck on the head by a water bottle, might have contributed to his defeat in the third round of the Rome Masters 1000 tournament on Sunday.

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"I must congratulate my opponent; I had never faced him before. He's a good player, very complete. I couldn't find my rhythm on the court," he said after losing to Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (ranked 31st) 6-2, 6-3.

"I was completely off my game, lacking rhythm and balance," he continued during the press conference.

On Friday evening, he was hit by the falling water bottle while signing autographs after his easy victory against Frenchman Corentin Moutet (6-3, 6-1).

"I can't say if what happened on Friday had an impact. I will need to undergo examinations," explained "Djoko," the world number one, who has yet to win a title in 2024.

Despite the head injury, he was able to quickly return to his hotel without visiting a hospital and trained normally the next day.

"I didn't feel anything negative during training, but today, I didn't feel like myself. Under stress, I wasn't the same player as on Friday," emphasized the Serbian, a 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Before Roland-Garros (May 26-June 9), "I will need to undergo examinations, have a scan, which I didn't do here," he detailed.

To shine on clay courts, "I need to improve everything, really everything," he warned.

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