Djokovic falls to 20-year-old qualifier in Rome return

Dino Prizmic, a 20-year-old Croatian qualifier ranked 79th, upset Djokovic in his Italian Open return, winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Friday.espn
It was the first time the six-time Rome champion had ever lost his opening match at the tournament, according to the ATP.atptour
Djokovic said he’s “a step behind” competitively and expressed uncertainty about his fitness for the French Open, which begins May 24.espn

Novak Djokovic’s Italian Open Exit Raises Fitness Questions Ahead of Grand Slam Season

Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat to 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open on Friday, losing 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in his first competitive match since March. The loss in Rome, where Djokovic is a six-time champion, marked the first time he had ever fallen in his opening match at the tournament.abc

The 38-year-old Serbian returned to competition after a two-month absence caused by a right shoulder injury that forced him to skip the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. Djokovic was visibly taped on his right shoulder during the match and appeared to struggle physically at the start of the second set.espn

A Step Behind

After the match, Djokovic acknowledged he was not at the level he needs to compete deeper in tournaments. “I aimed to play one or more matches, but unfortunately, I only managed one,” he said in a press conference. “Clearly, I recognize what I’m lacking. I’m a step behind. I’m not quite at the level I aspire to compete at and to progress further.”espn

When asked about his fitness ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 24, Djokovic was candid about his uncertainty. “I don’t know. I hope to be,” he said. “The circumstances are what they are. You have to make the best of it. I train rigorously, as much as my body permits. How things unfold on the court is quite unpredictable”.espn

Wimbledon Remains in Focus

Despite the setback, Djokovic has long signaled his intention to compete at Wimbledon in 2026. After his semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon last July, the 24-time Grand Slam champion declared: “I’m not planning to finish my Wimbledon career today. I’m planning to come back definitely — at least one more time”. Analysts have noted that maintaining his top-four ranking ahead of the Wimbledon seeding cutoff remains a priority for the Serbian.foxsports

Djokovic’s 2026 season has been marked by selective scheduling and injury management. He reached the Australian Open final in February before losing to Carlos Alcaraz, then competed at Indian Wells in March before his shoulder injury sidelined him for two months. With the clay-court season offering little match preparation, questions remain over whether Djokovic can find his form on the grass courts of the All England Club this summer.si