The Serbian world No 1 lacked his usual clinical edge against Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, rushing between points, landing barely half his first serves and failing to create a single break point in a 6-2, 6-3 loss, the earliest of his career at the Foro Italico.

Djokovic’s lacklustre display followed an accident on Friday night that left the 24-time grand slam champion crumpled in a heap after a metal water bottle fell from a spectator’s backpack while he was signing autographs. The 36-year-old, who was struck directly in the head, was left bloodied and nauseous in the immediate aftermath, but made light of the episode on Saturday, when he turned up for practice wearing a bicycle helmet over his cap. 

His performance against Tabilo was no laughing matter, however, with Djokovic complaining that it felt “like a different player entered into my shoes”. Powerless to resist an electrifying exhibition of ball-striking by the 26-year-old Chilean, Djokovic said he would now have his condition assessed by doctors.

“I have to do medical checkups and see what’s going on,” said Djokovic. “It was a very unfortunate, unlucky situation for me.

“It was unexpected, obviously. I wasn’t even looking up. Then I felt a very strong hit in the head. That has really impacted me a lot. 

“After that I got the medical care. [Went] through half an hour, an hour of nausea, dizziness, blood, a lot of different things. I managed to sleep OK. I had headaches. The next day was pretty fine, so I thought it’s OK. Maybe it is OK, maybe it’s not. 

“The way I felt on the court today was just completely like a different player entered into my shoes. Just no rhythm, no tempo, no balance whatsoever on any shot. It’s a bit concerning.”

After a strangely disengaged performance, Djokovic left the stage with boos ringing in his ears and ample food for thought before his title defence at the French Open, which begins in Paris at the end of the month. Yet to win a tournament this season, he has rarely looked more undercooked going into Paris, although that could change quickly with the possibility of a record 25th major on the line.

With Djokovic and Rafael Nadal struggling for form, and Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz struggling with injury, the 2024 edition of Roland Garros promises to be the most open in years. But while the door is ajar for the likes of Casper Ruud, who has made the past two finals, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who came within a set of the title against Djokovic in 2021, no one will relish the prospect of seeing Tabilo in their section of the draw. 

Patient and powerful, Tabilo tormented Djokovic from the outset with his heavy whipped forehands, delicate drop shots and southpaw serve, spoiling for a fight that the becalmed Serb was clearly in no mood to have. As Djokovic went about his business with apparent indifference, bowling in first serves one minute, belting down second serves in excess of 120mph the next, arguably Tabilo’s biggest achievement was to remain focused, ensuring his own level did not drop.

“This year I’ve been climbing the rankings,” said Tabilo, who won his first tour-level title in Auckland earlier this year, and arrived in Rome fresh from winning a Challenger event on clay in Aix-en-Provence. “I’ve been playing with these higher-ranked players, the top 10s, top 20s. Been struggling there a little bit trying to get a win.  

“Just being able to beat Novak today, him being No 1 in the world, it’s surreal right now. [I’ve] just got to keep working, trying to stay with this momentum, with this confidence, try to finish off the year in top form.”With Roland Garros looming, how soon Djokovic can find top form is another question.

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