Nadal eyes French Open post early Rome exit; Djokovic fine after struck by water bottle

Rafael Nadal leaves the court after losing to Hubert Hurkacz in Rome on Saturday. Pic/AP, PTI; (right) Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal said on Saturday that he is leaning towards playing at the upcoming French Open despite being eliminated in the second round in Rome, 6-1, 6-3 by Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Clay-court icon Nadal had previously said that he would only play at the French Open, where he has won a record 14 titles, if he feels competitive after a raft of injury problems over the last two years which have left him languishing 305th in the world rankings.

And the manner of his elimination in his first ever encounter with Hurkacz was a step backwards after reaching the last 16 in Madrid, leaving a question mark hanging over his plans.

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"The decision, as you can imagine, is not clear in my mind today. But if I have to say what's my feeling and if my mind is closer one way or the other way, I going to say be in Roland Garros and try my best," Nadal told reporters.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic insisted on Saturday that he was "fine" and ready to play after being hit on the head by a water bottle as he signed autographs following his second-round win at the Italian Open.

World No. 1 Djokovic was left crouched on the ground in agony on Friday as the bottle struck him on the back of the head as he greeted fans on centre court at the Foro Italico. "Thank you for the messages of concern," Djokovic wrote Saturday on X, formerly Twitter. "This was an accident and I am fine resting at the hotel with an ice pack. See you all on Sunday."

The 36-year-old had gotten off to a winning start in the Italian capital, beating France's Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the third round. Iga Swiatek fought past Yulia Putintseva 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last 16 of the women's tournament.

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