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He cleaned up his game after dropping his first two service
games with some sloppy play, though, and completed a 6-3, 6-1 win over
left-handed French qualifier Corentin Moutet in his opening match at the
Italian Open on Friday.
“I haven’t practiced with a lefty in a while, so it took me
a little bit of time to adjust to the different rotation on the balls,”
Djokovic said. “The first four games were quite bad for me. … But then I played
well.”
Djokovic later needed medical attention after accidentally
getting knocked on the head by a water bottle while leaving the court.
A man was leaning over the railing to hand Djokovic a
notebook for a signature and an aluminum-type water bottle fell out of his
backpack and hit the top-ranked player on the top of his head.
“While leaving center court after his match, Novak Djokovic
was hit on the head by a water bottle while signing autographs. He received
medical attention and has already left the Foro Italico to return to his hotel.
His condition is not a cause for concern,” tournament organizers said in a
statement.
Djokovic hadn’t played since he lost to Casper Ruud in the
Monte Carlo Masters semifinals on April 13. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is
also without a title this year — the first time he’s reached May without a
trophy since 2018, when he was returning from a right elbow injury.
But Rome, where he’s a six-time champion, is one of
Djokovic’s favorite tournaments. It’s also where Djokovic is trying to step up
his game on clay before attempting to defend his title at the French Open,
which starts on May 26.
Djokovic produced 21 winners to Moutet’s 13 and had 13
unforced errors to his opponent’s 20. Showing a willingness to come forward,
Djokovic also won 18 of 22 points at the net.
“Corentin is a very talented player. He has great hands and
very unpredictable. You don’t know what what comes up next. So I had to stay
focused, which I did,” Djokovic said. “So it’s a good opening match.”
Djokovic hadn’t played since he lost to Casper Ruud in the
Monte Carlo Masters semifinals on April 13. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is
also without a title this year — the first time he’s reached May without a
trophy since 2018, when he was returning from a right elbow injury.
But Rome, where he’s a six-time champion, is one of
Djokovic’s favorite tournaments. It’s also where Djokovic is trying to step up
his game on clay before attempting to defend his title at the French Open,
which starts on May 26.
Djokovic produced 21 winners to Moutet’s 13 and had 13
unforced errors to his opponent’s 20. Showing a willingness to come forward,
Djokovic also won 18 of 22 points at the net.
“Corentin is a very talented player. He has great hands and
very unpredictable. You don’t know what what comes up next. So I had to stay
focused, which I did,” Djokovic said. “So it’s a good opening match.”
In the women’s tournament, defending champion Elena Rybakina
withdrew before her opening match against Irina-Camelia Begu because of
illness.
“Unfortunately I do not feel well enough to compete,” the
fourth-ranked Rybakina said. “I have such good memories from last year and was
looking forward to defending my title.”
Sofia Kenin eliminated eighth-seeded Ons Jabeur 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, while Maria Sakkari, Jelena Ostapenko and Danielle Collins each advanced. AP
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