Novak Djokovic expressed deep concern after suffering a shocking third-round defeat at the Rome Open to Alejandro Tabilo. Djokovic, who had been hit on the head by a bottle a few days earlier, attributed his subdued performance to the after-effects of the incident, including nausea and dizziness.

Despite initially downplaying the impact, Djokovic admitted to experiencing a lack of coordination and feeling like a "completely different player" during the match. Concerned about his form and physical condition, Djokovic plans to undergo scans ahead of the French Open in Paris.

 

With Djokovic's early exit, the men's tournament before Roland Garros is now wide open, with third seed Alexander Zverev advancing after defeating Luciano Darderi. Meanwhile, Tabilo claimed a remarkable victory over Djokovic, displaying exceptional tennis with 22 winners and minimal unforced errors.

In the women's draw, Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka set up a highly anticipated clash with Elina Svitolina, marking their first encounter since a handshake row at last year's French Open. Svitolina accused Sabalenka of inflaming tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, setting the stage for a compelling match between the two rivals.