Novak Djokovic Struck by Falling Water Bottle at Rome Masters
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s opening-round victory at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia took a bizarre and concerning turn when he was struck by a falling water bottle while exiting the court.
After defeating Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1, Djokovic was signing autographs for fans when the incident occurred. A water bottle, believed to be of the heavier, stainless steel variety, plummeted from the stands and struck Djokovic in the head.
The impact caused Djokovic to recoil to the ground in pain. Security personnel immediately inspected the bottle and escorted the 24-time Grand Slam champion off Campo Centrale.
A fan captured the moment on camera and uploaded it to social media. The footage shows Djokovic signing autographs when the bottle suddenly appears and strikes him.
The extent of Djokovic’s injuries is unclear. He is scheduled to face No. 29 seed Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. However, the incident has raised concerns about his ability to continue in the tournament.
Djokovic has a history of head injuries. In 2017, he withdrew from the Wimbledon Championships due to a shoulder injury that was later revealed to be a head injury.
The incident has also sparked questions about security at the Rome Masters. Fans are allowed to bring water bottles into the stadium, but they are supposed to be sealed. It is unclear how the bottle that struck Djokovic was able to enter the stadium unsealed.
The tournament organizers have released a statement expressing their concern and stating that they are investigating the incident.
