Rome, May 9: Six-time Italian Open champion Novak Djokovic has been eliminated from the tournament after losing to world number 79, Dario Prizmic. Djokovic won the first set but Prizmic made a strong comeback, winning the second and third sets to secure victory.
Prizmic defeated Djokovic with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. This marks the first time Djokovic has lost his opening match in the Italian capital. With this win, Prizmic has achieved two victories over top 10 players, having previously defeated Ben Shelton in the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid last month.
The 20-year-old Prizmic aims to reach the fourth round at this level for the first time. His next match will be against Hugo Humbert.
Djokovic initially dominated the first set, winning it in just 40 minutes. However, his performance declined in the second set, with a noticeable drop in shot depth and accuracy. Frustration was evident on his face as he found himself trailing 4-0 against the fearless Prizmic.
The young Croatian continued to apply pressure, forcing the 24-time Grand Slam champion into making errors, ultimately leading to a decisive third set.
Djokovic remained competitive in the final set until he faltered at the first real threat, losing his serve at the first break point. After that point, he failed to create any break opportunities. Despite his attempts to pressure Prizmic into mistakes, the Croatian held firm, securing the biggest win of his career.
Earlier this year, Djokovic reached the championship match at the Australian Open after defeating Jannik Sinner, and he hopes to recover in time for Roland Garros later this month. Djokovic is pursuing his record 25th Grand Slam title.
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