Djokovic requires medical assistance after being hit on the head by a water bottle during Italian Open

ROME (AP) — Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic had a scare at the Italian Open on Friday when he was accidentally hit on the head by a water bottle after his match.

The incident occurred as Djokovic was leaving the court after his victory over French qualifier Corentin Moutet. A man leaning over the railing to hand Djokovic a notebook accidentally dropped an aluminum water bottle, which struck the top-ranked player on the top of his head.

Djokovic immediately grabbed his head in pain and curled up on the ground, prompting a security guard to shield him. The Serbian player was then helped off the court and received medical attention for a bump on his head. Fortunately, he did not require stitches and his condition was not deemed serious.

Italian Tennis Federation spokesman Alessandro Catapano confirmed that Djokovic was taken back to his hotel and appeared to be okay despite being upset about the incident. Authorities are investigating the incident and reviewing video footage to identify the person responsible for the mishap.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is scheduled to play his next match at the tournament on Sunday and is gearing up to defend his title at the upcoming French Open. Djokovic, who recently returned to competition after a month off, will have a day off to recover before his next match.

Fans and organizers are relieved that Djokovic’s injury was not severe and are hopeful that he will continue to perform at his best in the upcoming tournaments.