Novak Djokovic, the number #1 player in the world, made a surprising decision this week.

After losing in the Italian Open and looking clearly shaken by getting hit in the head with a water bottle, Djokovic decided to go against his usual habits. According to reports, in need of a boost before the major French Open, the Serbian accepted an invite to play at the Genova ATP.

This is rare for the champion tennis player as most athletes tend to rest before a major competition, but Djokovic could use the extra playing time. He bounced unexpectedly in straight sets this past week in Italy, his earliest departure from the tournament ever, and received medical treatment after the water bottle left him on the ground for over 30 seconds.

After the tournament, he said that the freak accident affected his play and could be a reason for his shock exit. Other stars also struggled in Rome, as Rafael Nadal lost in the first round, and only one player ranked in the top five made it to the semifinals. Djokovic has won the Italian Open six times, and he last reigned supreme in 2022.

The French Open begins on May 26, one week after the conclusion of the Italian Open.

One of the greatest athletes of all time, Serena Williams took a rare defeat in her return to court, with a 7-6 (6), 7-5 loss to Nadia Podoroska on Wednesday in the second round of the Italian Open. It was Williams’ 1,000th tour-level match, an impressive feat added to the resume of the greatest women’s tennis player ever.

Her career record sits at 851-149. Williams came into this match as the eighth overall seed, but hadn’t played since the Australian Open, so the rust was certainly showing. Williams spoke to the media after her defeat. “It’s tough to have a first match on clay. It was definitely kind of good to go the distance and to try to be out there, but clearly I can do legions better,” said Williams, who has won the Italian Open four times. “Maybe I do need a few more matches, so I’m going to try to figure that out with my coach and my team and see what we would like to do. … I have been training for months, but it feels definitely different on clay to make that last adjustment.”

The 24 year-old Podoroska is building an impressive resume herself, as this is her third career win over a top-10 player.

“It’s special win,” Podoroska said. “As I said, she’s a great athlete. She did too many things for our sport. It’s history. So for me, it’s very special. But most of all, I’m happy the way I played. Like, I felt again comfortable on clay, on my game, and that’s most important for me.”

As for the rest of the tournament, a surprising number of heavyweights are down and out already. Both Simona Halep, the defending champion, and Naomi Osaka, the second overall seed and up and coming star are out as well. Halep suffered a left calf injury against Angelique Kerber, while Osaka lost to Jessica Pegula.

Maria Sharapova was denied a wild-card entry into this year’s French Open due to her doping ban on Tuesday, the same day the Russian star retired from the Italian Open with a thigh injury.

Maria Sharapova denied entry into French Open

Bernard Giudicelli, the president of the French Tennis Federation, announced the decision via Facebook Live after telling Sharapova in person.

“I decided not to give Maria Sharapova a wild card. I’m very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be disappointed, she might be very disappointed,” Giudicelli said. “But it’s my responsibility, it’s my mission to protect the game and protect the high standards of the game.”

Sharapova, 30, returned to competitive tennis in April following a 15-month suspension for a doping violation. She received wild-card entries into the main draw of regular tournaments in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as Madrid and Rome.

The Russian is a two-time French Open singles champion: she won Roland Garros in 2012 and 2014. This year’s tournament begins on May 28 in Paris.

“She has handled her suspension with dignity and respect,” added Giudicelli. “But nonetheless, though there can be a wild card after an injury, there cannot be one for a return from doping. So it is up to Maria day after day, tournament after tournament, to find alone the strength she needs to win the big titles without owing anything to anyone.”

Sharapova, who boasts titles at all four majors, was criticized by several other tennis stars, including Angelique Kerber, Andy Murray and Genie Bouchard, the last of whom said Sharapova had cheated by doping and also slammed the International Tennis Federation for allowing the Russian to compete again.

Others, however, seem to support Sharapova and believe disqualifying her from entry into any of these tournaments is excessive.

“I believe every tournament should give her a main draw wild card, and I think the safest play is to give her a wild card into the qualies,” Justin Gimelstob, a Tennis Channel analyst and member of the ATP board of directors, said on Monday. “I’m very concerned this new president is going to try to make a statement and shut her out of the tournament. If he does that, it’s a huge travesty and a mistake.”

Novak Djokovic, a longtime friend of Sharapova’s, said there is not much anyone can do about the French Tennis Federation’s decision.

“Whoever, you know, runs the French Open is in charge of the French Open, and they can make a decision that they think is the most appropriate,” said the top-ranked Serb. “Must be tough for her, but it’s the way it is. In some tournaments she’s going to get that help in wild card and invitation. Some not. Unfortunately, it’s a Grand Slam, which is for sure for her a big one. But it is what it is.”

The ITF initially suspended Sharapova from tennis in June 2016 for two years after she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at last year’s Australian Open. In October, her suspension was reduced to 15 months starting from the date of the failed test (January 26, 2016).

Sharapova defeated American Christina McHale in the first round of the Italian Open on Monday and has now secured a spot in Wimbledon, a tournament the Russian won in 2004.

On Tuesday, however, Sharapova withdrew from her second-round match in Rome against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni with a thigh injury after leading 4-6, 6-3, 2-1.

The Russian stepped off the court for an injury timeout during the second game of the third set and returned with her left thigh taped. She officially retired approximately 2.5 hours after Giudicelli announced her suspension.

Sharapova did not hold a press conference following Tuesday’s match and issued a statement that addressed her injury but not her ban from the French Open.

“I apologize for having to withdraw from my match today with a left thigh injury,” she said. “I will be getting all the necessary examinations to make sure it is not serious. I want to thank the tournament for giving me the opportunity to play this special event again.”

Roger Federer, meanwhile, announced Monday that he will bypass the French Open, a clay-court tournament, in order to focus on grass-court play.

Caption:MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 22: Maria Sharapova of Russia plays a backhand in her third round match against Lauren Davis of the United States during day five of the 2016 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Andy Murray defeated Novak Djokovic on clay to win his first Italian Open title on Sunday, which was also the Brit’s 29th birthday.

Andy Murray Defeats Novak Djokovic In Italian Open

After losing to Djokovic in the Madrid Open final just a week ago, the third-ranked Murray finished the Serbian superstar: 6-3, 6-3.

“The finals of a Masters series on clay is something that’s a new experience for me,” Murray said. “It’s nice to still be sort of achieving new things and reaching new goals at this stage of my career.”

Murray received a birthday cake during the trophy ceremony. He dedicated the victory to his three-month-old daughter, Sophia Olivia.

“I feel like that’s what I’m playing for now so that in a few years hopefully she can be proud of what I have achieved,” Murray said.

Djokovic appeared to scold the umpire, Damian Steiner, several times throughout Sunday’s match, arguing that the court was too slippery because of the rain.

“I don’t want to play anymore,” Djokovic told the umpire late in the second set.

“I didn’t ask to postpone the match,” Djokovic explained later. “I asked to have a little break where we would give a little more time, maybe five more minutes, for people to arrange the court.”

Murray, on the other hand, seemed to have no trouble with the court conditions and never dropped his serve, saving all three break points he faced. He is the second British man to ever win the Open, officially called the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, after Pat Hughes in 1931.

Djokovic had taken all four of their previous games on clay, but found himself tired after draining victories over Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Japan’s Kei Nishikori. The Serb played with a bandage on his left ankle after hurting himself with his racket on Saturday.

“It was a week with a lot of emotions, a lot of hours on the court,” Djokovic said. “It wasn’t easy to be fresh today and have the strength to play with Andy. He was just too good today and he deserved it.”

Earlier on Sunday, Serena Williams ended a nine-month title drought with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Madison Keys in an all-American women’s final. The game marked the first time two American women met in a final on clay since Serena beat older sister Venus in the 2002 French Open.

William’s previous title was in August in Cincinnati, just one month before her attempt at a calendar-year Grand Slam ended with a semifinal loss to Italian Roberta Vinci at the U.S. Open.

“It feels great,” Williams said, pointing out that she’s only played four tournaments since Cincinnati. “So it’s not like I was playing every week. So that’s kind of how I look at it. But it feels great to win a title, especially on clay.”

This was William’s 70th overall career title. She and Murray will now go on to play in the French Open, Roland Garros, which begins next week.

PHOTO: ROME, ITALY – MAY 13: Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against David Goffin of Belguim during day six of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 13, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)