Novak Djokovic has ascribed his shock Italian Open loss at the hands of Alejandro Tabilo to the fact that he was hit on the head with a water bottle while signing autographs the previous day.

The number one player in the world had initially joked about the incident as he took to the court with a cycling helmet on his head, but the effects of Saturday’s accident were soon evident as he plummeted to a 6-2, 6-3 reverse.

Speaking to the media after the loss, he said, “The way I felt on the court today was just completely like a different player entering my shoes.

“Just no rhythm, no tempo, and no balance whatsoever on any shot. It’s a bit concerning.”

Reflecting on the impact of the incident that happened while he was signing autographs the previous day, he said, “It has really impacted me a lot. After that, I got medical care and went through half an hour to an hour of nausea, dizziness, and blood.

“I managed to sleep okay; I had headaches. The next day, or yesterday, was pretty fine, so I thought it was okay. Maybe it is okay—maybe it’s not,” he added.

Meanwhile, the victorious Tabilo could not contain his delight at beating the legendary Serb: “It’s incredible. I came onto the court, just looking around and soaking it all in, trying to process everything. I’m trying to wake up right now.

“I was just trying to keep my nerves and keep swinging. Every time you feel like you are close to the end, your arms get a little tighter.

“I was just trying not to think about it and take it point by point. It’s crazy; I can’t believe what’s happened,” he said.