Novak Djokovic’s comeback in professional tennis resulted in a stunning upset as Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic claimed a stunning victory at the Italian Open in Rome on Wednesday. The world number four, playing his first match since 12 March and his first clay-court tournament of the year after a shoulder injury, fell to the 20-year-old 2-6 6-2 6-4 in the second round. Despite a bright start, Djokovic looked sluggish and battled illness as the match continued, failing to recapture the form that has made him a six-time title holder in the Italian capital. The defeat marks a major blow for the 38-year-old Serbian star in advance of the French Open, which commences on 24 May.
Prizmic’s Pivotal Achievement
Dino Prizmic’s victory marks a watershed moment in the Croatian’s rising career, providing the 20-year-old with his second top-10 scalp in as many weeks after his impressive triumph over world number six Ben Shelton at the Madrid Open. The qualifier showed remarkable composure throughout, notably when serving for the match in the third set, where he kept his nerve in spite of the magnitude of the occasion. His commanding ground game and dominant service game proved too much for a clearly troubled Djokovic, with 13 aces in the second set demonstrating his aggressive intent and technical prowess on the clay courts.
What made Prizmic’s performance all the more impressive was his willingness to engage in baseline exchanges and his drive to track down Djokovic’s drop shots—a strategic method that countered the veteran’s efforts to cut short points. The youngster, who idolises Djokovic and has earlier fallen to him at the Australian Open in 2024, showed no signs of being intimidated by his opponent’s legendary status. After clinching victory with an ace down the wide, Prizmic wrote “Nole it was a pleasure” on the camera lens, a respectful gesture that captured the moment’s significance for a player still making his mark among tennis’s elite.
- Second successive top-10 victory following a win over Ben Shelton in Madrid
- Hit 13 winning shots in the second-set period to seize control of the match
- Remained composed whilst playing out the most significant victory of his career
- Paid respectful tribute to his idol Djokovic following the triumph
Djokovic’s Difficulty on His Return
Novak Djokovic’s comeback to professional tennis proved far more challenging than anticipated, with the fourth-ranked player failing to capitalise on an promising opening against the determined Croatian qualifier. After a lengthy absence dating back to 12 March, the Serbian champion had aimed to work through the rust of his shoulder injury on the Rome clay courts, where he stands as a six-time champion. Instead, he became progressively tired as the match progressed, moving sluggishly behind the baseline and turning to drop shots in a determined bid to shorten rallies. What started as a dominant first-set display, where Djokovic gave up only three points on serve, quickly unravelled as Prizmic took control with four straight games in the second-set stretch.
The toll of his time spent away became evident as the match wore on, with Djokovic looking to contend with a virus during the second set. Both players left court before the deciding set, though the pause seemed to provide Prizmic with more advantage than the defending title holder. Despite displaying moments of fresh vigour at the start of the deciding set, Djokovic could not take charge of the baseline rallies. His frustration mounted visibly—reflected in an heated outburst at the final changeover —as Prizmic’s sustained attacking play and readiness to track down drop shots proved too much for a player plainly not operating at peak condition or competitive sharpness.
Physical Challenges and Readiness
The 38-year-old’s frank assessment of his physical condition following the defeat painted a stark picture of his current state. Djokovic admitted that he is “not quite where I want to be to compete at the highest level,” a notably honest admission from a player accustomed to dominating the sport. He revealed that he has no recollection of a recent tournament preparation free from fitness problems, suggesting that dealing with injuries and ailments has become an unwanted constant in his career. With his 39th birthday approaching just two days before the French Open commences, Djokovic faces the uncomfortable reality that maintaining top-level play at his age requires managing a complex minefield of physical challenges.
Djokovic’s choice to avoid all remaining tournaments before Roland Garros underscores the gravity of his situation. The six-time Roland Garros winner feels he needs maximum recovery time rather than additional match practice, a tactical decision that reflects both his realism and his recognition of current limitations. Having reached the Australian Open final in January before losing to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic continues to harbour ambitions of claiming a unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title. However, his showing in Rome has raised questions about whether the time available will prove sufficient to return him to the form necessary for a deep run in Paris, particularly given the demanding nature of clay-court tennis.
Match Analysis: How the Shock Result Developed
The progression of the match revealed a clear divergence between Djokovic’s early superiority and his later deterioration. The Serb seized the initiative immediately, breaking serve twice to claim the first set in dominant style, dropping merely three points on his own serve. Yet the tide turned dramatically as Prizmic hit his stride, launching a series of powerful groundstrokes that caught Djokovic increasingly struggling. The Croatian’s readiness to strike from the baseline, combined with his impressive forehand, proved especially potent against an opponent operating without sharpness and seemingly struggling with the surface. Djokovic’s turn to drop shots—a tactical adjustment that might ordinarily have produced positive results—backfired as Prizmic demonstrated the mobility and anticipation to chase them down relentlessly.
| Set | Djokovic | Prizmic |
|---|---|---|
| First | 6 | 2 |
| Second | 2 | 6 |
| Third | 4 | 6 |
Prizmic’s equilibrium during the critical junctures was decisive in clinching success. Going for the title at 5-4 in the third set, the 20-year-old stayed composed despite the magnitude of the occasion, maintaining his ability to hit his groundstrokes with authority before clinching victory with an ace down the wide. His emotional control throughout—in marked contrast to Djokovic’s evident frustration—indicated a wisdom beyond his age, whilst his subsequent gesture of writing “Nole it was a pleasure” on the camera lens showed both respect and the weight of overcoming his childhood idol.
Anticipating Roland Garros
Djokovic’s decision to withdraw from further competition before the French Open constitutes a pragmatic acknowledgement of his present physical constraints. With just sixteen days separating his Rome exit and the start of Roland Garros on 24 May, the veteran champion faces a compressed preparation window to address the shoulder injury that has plagued his season. His clear declaration that he will not play further before Paris emphasises the seriousness of his worries, suggesting he regards additional match play as potentially counterproductive rather than beneficial. At 38 years of age, with his 39th birthday falling merely two days prior to the tournament commences, Djokovic cannot sustain the privilege of prolonged rest that younger competitors might require.
The Serb’s straightforward admission that he cannot recall a recent Grand Slam build-up without physical complications reveals the stark reality of performing at the sport’s elite level whilst managing the inevitable decline that accompanies increasing age. His semi-finalist finish at Roland Garros last year and the January Australian Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz demonstrate he remains able of performing at an elite standard, yet the Rome upset serves as a sobering reminder of how rapidly form can deteriorate when physical condition is affected. The question confronting Djokovic now is whether a fortnight of concentrated rehabilitation and restricted training can rebuild sufficient self-belief and fitness to mount a genuine challenge for that elusive twenty-fifth Grand Slam title.