ROME, May 13, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Novak Djokovic described his shock third-

round elimination from the Rome Open by Alejandro Tabilo on Sunday as
"concerning", two days after he was hit on the head by a bottle which he said
has caused nausea and dizzy spells.

Djokovic's bid for a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title was ended in
just over an hour by Chilean Tabilo, who is ranked 32nd in the world and
claimed his first win over a top-10 opponent, 6-2, 6-3.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner said that his subdued performance on a court
where he has won six titles might have been due to the blow suffered while
greeting fans on Friday night.

He had initially laughed off being accidentally struck on the head by a hard
water bottle following his straightforward second-round win over Corentin
Moutet, by wearing a cycling crash helmet to training on Saturday morning.

"I don't know, to be honest. I have to check that. Training was different. I
was going for kind of easy training yesterday. I didn't feel anything, but I
also didn't feel the same," Djokovic told reporters.

"Today under high stress, it was quite bad -- not in terms of pain, but in
terms of this balance. Just no coordination. Completely different player from
what it was two nights ago."

Djokovic also said that he would have scans to "see what's going on" before
the French Open in Paris, where he will head not just worried by the after-
effects of the bottle incident but also his form.

- 'Different player' -

The last time Djokovic got to Roland Garros without a title to his name that
season was in 2018, when his first honour of the campaign came at Wimbledon.

With the French Open getting underway in two weeks and where he is the
defending champion, Djokovic admitted that "everything needs to be better in
order for me to have at least a chance to win" a 25th Grand Slam.

"The way I felt on the court today was just completely like a different
player entered into my shoes," added Djokovic. "It's a bit concerning."

Djokovic's early elimination means that the last major men's tournament
before Roland Garros is now wide open with third seed Alexander Zverev
beating home hope Luciano Darderi, ranked 54th in the world, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.

Tabilo was a worthy winner against Djokovic after tearing into his superstar
opponent, claiming the biggest win of his career in remarkable style by
hitting 22 winners, making just four unforced errors and not facing a single
break point.

"Honestly in no moment was I like, Okay, I can win this," said a delighted
Tabilo.

"I was playing incredible tennis. Just wanted to keep that level... The whole
match I was just trying to take it point by point, not think about the score.
Every point was like the start of the match."

- Sabalenka v Svitolina -

Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka will face Elina Svitolina for the
first time since their handshake row at last year's French Open after both
cruised into the last women's last 16.

Second seed Sabalenka beat Dayana Yastremska, 6-4, 6-2 to set up a clash in
the next round with Svitolina, a two-time winner at the Foro Italico, who
comfortably beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-3, 6-3.

Svitolina accused Belarusian Sabalenka of inflaming tensions surrounding the
Russia-Ukraine war for waiting at the net for a handshake after beating
Ukrainian Svitolina in the Roland Garros quarter-finals in 2023.

Svitolina had already insisted she was not going to offer one, as all Ukraine
players refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian rivals in protest
at the ongoing war.

Sabalenka, who has never won in Rome but is a two-time champion on the Madrid
clay, looks in good shape to at least match her 2022 run to the semi-finals.

Earlier fifth seed Maria Sakkari lined up a probable last-16 clash with
Victoria Azarenka who beat 80th-ranked Egyptian Mayar Sherif 6-2, 6-7 (6/8),
6-3.