Djokovic’s Rome defeat paves way for Sinner’s shot at Roland Garros top spot

Novak Djokovic’s unexpected early exit from the Italian Open on Sunday has intensified the competition for the world number one ranking as he heads into the French Open to defend his title, with Jannik Sinner positioned to potentially overtake him. Djokovic suffered a surprising defeat to Alejandro Tabilo with a score of 6-2, 6-3 in the third round, marking his earliest departure from a tournament he has won six times. This occurred just two days after an incident where Djokovic was hit on the head by a falling water bottle while signing autographs in Rome, an event he described as highly unfortunate and impactful.

Djokovic remains 1,090 points ahead of Sinner going into the French Open, which starts on May 26. However, he is in a precarious position as he needs to defend 2,000 points in Paris. Winning the French Open might not guarantee retaining his top ranking.

Reflecting on the incident with the water bottle, Djokovic recounted the unexpected blow to his head which left him dealing with nausea, dizziness, and headaches. “I managed to sleep okay. I had headaches. Yesterday was fine, so I thought it’s okay. Maybe it’s okay. Maybe it’s not,” he said, acknowledging the disruption it caused to his form. “The way I felt on the court was just completely like a different player entered into my shoes. No rhythm, no tempo, no balance whatsoever on any shot. It’s a bit concerning.”

Heading to Paris with only six matches on clay this season, Djokovic appears underprepared as he aims for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Meanwhile, Sinner, recovering from a hip injury and having skipped the Rome tournament, will defend only 45 points at the French Open. If Sinner reaches the championship match, he could ascend to the world number one spot on June 10, regardless of Djokovic’s performance.

Before the water bottle incident, Djokovic had already experienced a challenging season. He was defeated by Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, lost to Luca Nardi in the third round at Indian Wells, and was beaten by Casper Ruud in the Monte Carlo semi-finals, which raised concerns among his fans about a diminishing aura of invincibility.

Last year, despite winning three of the four Grand Slams, Djokovic made significant changes in his team, parting ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic and fitness coach Marco Panichi, as he sought to regain his top form for the upcoming Grand Slams and the Paris Olympics.

While some may speculate about a decline, Djokovic remains hopeful of disproving critics by clinching another title at the French Open. However, he acknowledges that improvements are needed soon, as this is the first time since 2018 that he has reached May without winning a trophy. “Everything needs to be better in order for me to have at least a chance to win it,” Djokovic stated.