Djokovic loses to qualifier Prizmic in Rome debut

Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the Italian Open on Friday in his opening match, losing to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the second round at the Foro Itálico.

The 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 79th in the ATP standings, delivered one of the season's biggest upsets by defeating the six-time Rome champion. The match lasted just over two hours and fifteen minutes. Djokovic, who will turn 39 on May 22, had not competed since March 12 following a right shoulder injury sustained at Indian Wells, where he lost to Britain's Jack Draper.

Djokovic began strongly, dominating the first set as Prizmic committed numerous errors. However, the Serbian player's performance deteriorated significantly in the second and third sets. He appeared to struggle physically, visibly wearing a shoulder bandage that remained evident even when he changed shirts between sets. Djokovic frequently could not maintain Prizmic's pace, resulting in long backhands and questionable tactical choices.

Prizmic capitalized on his opponent's decline, playing with composure and varying his rhythm effectively. The Croatian pushed from the baseline with his forehand and mixed up his shots to close out the match decisively. Despite the home crowd's support for Djokovic, Prizmic secured the victory with a composed performance.

This marks the first time in 19 appearances at Rome that Djokovic has lost in his opening match. His record at the tournament now stands at 18-1 in first-round play. Prizmic becomes the fifth player overall and the first Croatian to defeat Djokovic on clay. The victory represents Prizmic's second win against a top-10 player, following his defeat of Ben Shelton at the Madrid Masters two weeks earlier.

Djokovic had returned to competition after a two-month absence due to the shoulder injury. He was seeking to regain competitive rhythm ahead of the French Open, which begins May 24. After the match, Djokovic said he will not play again before Roland Garros.

Prizmic, who counts Djokovic among his idols, wrote "Nole it was a pleasure" on the camera lens following the match.