Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked player in men's tennis, was accidentally struck on the head by a water bottle after his victory at the Italian Open on Friday. Despite the incident, Djokovic reassured fans that he was "fine" and resting at his hotel with an ice pack.

The mishap occurred when a man leaned over the railing to hand Djokovic a notebook for a signature, causing an aluminum-type water bottle to fall out of his backpack and hit the Serbian tennis star on the top of his head. Immediately after being hit, Djokovic reacted by placing both hands on his head and then curling up on the ground, while a security guard shielded him.

Tournament organizers quickly attended to Djokovic, who had a visible bump on his head. He was examined by doctors, but did not require any stitches. However, due to the incident, Djokovic did not hold his usual post-match news conference.

In a statement, the organizers reassured fans that Djokovic's condition was not a cause for concern. He was promptly taken back to his hotel to recover. Italian Tennis Federation spokesman Alessandro Catapano mentioned that there was minor bleeding, but Djokovic seemed to be okay despite being upset by the incident.

The identity of the person responsible for the accidental bottle toss remains unknown. The police were called and asked for information, but the individual had already left the scene. Authorities are currently reviewing video footage and camera angles to determine what exactly transpired.

The incident occurred shortly after Djokovic's impressive 6-3, 6-1 triumph over French qualifier Corentin Moutet in his opening match. Having returned to the court after a month hiatus, Djokovic was preparing for his next scheduled match at the Italian Open on Sunday.

With the clay-court tournament serving as a crucial warm-up for the upcoming French Open, Djokovic's well-being is of high importance. Defending his title at the Grand Slam event, which commences on May 26, is undoubtedly the 36-year-old Serb's primary focus.

Despite the untimely accident, Djokovic remains determined and optimistic, assuring his fans that he will return to the court on Sunday. As tennis enthusiasts eagerly await his next performance, Djokovic's resilience and ability to overcome challenges will undoubtedly be on display in the days to come.