ROME — In a stunning turn of events, Novak Djokovic faced defeat at the hands of a Croatian qualifier, 18 years younger, during the Italian Open on Friday. This marked his return after a two-month hiatus due to a lingering right shoulder injury.
The rising star, 20-year-old Dino Prizmic, seized the moment by overcoming the legendary 24-time Grand Slam champion with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, closing the match with an ace on his very first match point.
At 38, Djokovic had not competed since his fourth-round exit against Jack Draper at Indian Wells, California, back in March.
During the match, Djokovic showcased visible taping on his right shoulder, a clear indication of his recent struggles, which was revealed as he changed shirts between sets.
A dominant force with six Rome titles to his name, Djokovic is now gearing up for the French Open, set to commence on May 24.
This year, Djokovic’s only other appearance was in the Australian Open final, where he fell short against Carlos Alcaraz.
Prizmic, ranked 79th, made waves by defeating No. 6 Ben Shelton to advance to the third round at the Madrid Open last month.
“He’s my idol,” said Prizmic, reflecting on his monumental win over Djokovic. “I just played unbelievably today.”
