After Nadal, another top tennis player was knocked out, and Novak Djokovic's surprise exit at the Italian Open cast a shadow over his French Open title defence.
Djokovic's exit provides a shot for the world number one for other players, such as Yannick Sinner. His defeat in the tournament, coupled with the previous episode of being accidentally hit in the head by a water bottle, put his form in the spotlight.
Djokovic, the name is almost synonymous with victory in the tennis world. The defeat at the Italian Open has forced the world No. 1 to re-examine his form. In Rome, Djokovic was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Alejandro Tabilo in the third round, and such an up-and-down form is also a clear sign of his inconsistent form.
Even more surprising was the fact that Djokovic was accidentally hit in the head by a water bottle during a pre-match autograph session, an accident that seemed to have had an impact on his form. "It was a very unfortunate and unlucky situation," he recalled afterwards. After the accident, Deyo felt nauseous, dizzy, headache, and even bleeding.
Djokovic has only played six matches at the Open and is clearly lacking in form as he seeks to reach his 25th Grand Slam title. Even if he goes on to win the French Open, rival Sinner could advance to the championship on June 10 and become world No. 1 for the first time.
Novak Djokovic's season has not been easy, as he won a record 11th Australian Open title, only to suffer setbacks in subsequent matches. Losing to Luca Naldi in the third round at Indian Wells and then being eliminated by Caspar Luther in the Monte Carlo semifinals has fans worried about whether his aura of invincibility is slowly fading.
Djokovic is also looking for a change in the face of his up-and-down form. He had previously parted ways with coach Ivanisevic and strength and conditioning coach Marco Panic in an attempt to regain his best form ahead of the French Open, Wimbledon and Paris Olympics. He admits that for the first time since 2018, there is no trophy in hand, and that this anomalous situation must be improved quickly.
The exit at Roma was a blow to Djokovic, who still has a chance to prove himself at the French Open. He said that adjustments will be made before the French Open in Paris and that everything needs to change for the better in order to have at least a chance to win the 25th Grand Slam. Djokovic's early exit also means that the competition for the last men's Grand Slam before the French Open will be even more intense.
It's also a good opportunity for the other players. Tabilo earned the biggest win of his career against Novak Djokovic, and his performance was impressive. The 24-year-old Chilean said: "I played incredible tennis and wanted to keep it that level......"
Deyo's exit, although surprising, is not unacceptable. It's also part of competitive sports, where every athlete encounters setbacks, and the key is how to face and overcome them.
Djokovic's experience shows us that no matter how difficult it is, as long as we maintain our strong belief and unremitting efforts, it is possible to usher in a turnaround. With the upcoming French Open, there is reason to expect that the Serbian tennis superstar will be able to adjust his form and challenge for the title again.