Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star, made headlines over the weekend as he showed up for his matches at the Foro Italico in Rome wearing a bicycle helmet. The decision to don protective gear came after a frightening incident during the Italian Open.

After securing a 6-3, 6-1 victory over French qualifier Corentin Moutet, Djokovic was exiting the clay court when an aluminum water bottle fell from the crowd above, hitting him directly on the head. The impact caused Djokovic to collapse to the ground, where he held his head for several minutes before leaving the court.

Tournament organizers quickly released a statement assuring fans that Djokovic's condition was not a cause for concern. Medical attention was provided, and Djokovic left the Foro Italico to return to his hotel. In his own statement on social media platform X, Djokovic referred to the incident as an "accident" and expressed gratitude for the messages of concern. He reassured his followers that he was fine, resting at the hotel with an ice pack, and looking forward to his next match.

Later, organizers shared a video that revealed the cause of the incident. It showed a fan leaning over to greet Djokovic, but as he leaned over the stands, a water bottle fell out of the backpack he was wearing, hitting the tennis star on the head.

Despite the incident, Djokovic appeared to be in good spirits as he arrived at the sports facility in Rome on Saturday, ready for his upcoming matches. He had already won his first match on Friday after taking a nearly month-long break from the sport.

Novak Djokovic's choice to wear a bicycle helmet while signing autographs for fans is a clear indication of his dedication to his safety and well-being. The incident serves as a reminder of the potential dangers athletes face, even off the court.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.