Djokovic Falls to Fearless Qualifier Prizmic at Italian Open

Djokovic Stunned by Qualifier Prizmic in Rome Second Round

Novak Djokovic's long-awaited return to competitive tennis ended in disappointment on Wednesday as the Serbian superstar was knocked out of the Italian Open by 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, who claimed a stunning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory at the Foro Italico.

A Rusty Return to Clay

Ranked fourth in the world, Djokovic had not stepped onto a tennis court since March 12, sidelined by a shoulder injury sustained at Indian Wells. More significantly, this was his first clay-court match of the entire season — a considerable disadvantage heading into one of the sport's most demanding surfaces.

Despite receiving a first-round bye in Rome, the six-time Italian Open champion looked far from his commanding best. While he opened the contest with authority — dropping only three points on serve throughout a dominant first set — his level dropped noticeably as the match progressed, with reports suggesting he may have been battling illness during the second set.

Prizmic Seizes His Moment

Prizmic, a wild-card qualifier who counts Djokovic among his personal heroes, refused to be intimidated by the occasion or the opponent. Armed with a thunderous serve and an even more punishing forehand, the young Croatian reeled off four consecutive games to commandeer the second set and level the match.

Djokovic labored behind the baseline, repeatedly deploying drop shots to cut short the rallies — a tactic that Prizmic largely neutralized, finishing with 13 winners in the set alone. Both players left the court before the deciding third set, and while Djokovic appeared to return with renewed energy, Prizmic remained relentless.

The Croatian broke serve to go 3-2 ahead in the final set after Djokovic pushed a volley beyond the baseline, and he never looked back. When the moment came to serve for victory, Prizmic was ice-cold — unleashing a series of powerful groundstrokes before sealing the win with an ace out wide.

In an emotional tribute after the final point, Prizmic picked up a courtside camera and wrote "Nole, it was a pleasure" on the lens — a heartfelt message to the champion he had idolized for years.

What This Means for the French Open

This defeat carries significant implications for Djokovic's Roland Garros preparations. The 38-year-old confirmed after the match that he will not compete again before the French Open begins on May 24, meaning he will carry just one clay-court match into one of the year's four Grand Slam events.

Djokovic, who will turn 39 just two days before the Paris tournament gets underway, acknowledged the difficulties of his current situation with characteristic honesty.

"I'm not definitely where I want to be to compete at the highest level and to be able to get far," he said. "I don't recall the last time I had a preparation where I didn't have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into a tournament. There's always something — kind of a new reality I have to deal with."

Prizmic Continues Impressive Run

For Prizmic, the victory represents the pinnacle of his young career — and follows a similarly impressive win over world number six Ben Shelton at the Madrid Open just weeks ago. The Roland Garros boys' champion from three years ago is clearly making the transition to the senior tour with growing confidence.

Djokovic, a semifinalist at Roland Garros last year and a finalist at this season's Australian Open — where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets — remains one of tennis's most formidable competitors in Grand Slam conditions. However, arriving in Paris with minimal match practice on clay will test even his extraordinary ability to elevate his game when it matters most.

All eyes will be on the French Open draw to see whether the veteran Serbian can find enough early-round rhythm to rediscover his best tennis before the tournament reaches its decisive stages.