Djokovic during a training session in Rome / EFE
Novak Djokovic’s return to the court did not go as planned. The Serbian suffered a defeat in his debut at the Rome Masters 1000, falling to Croatia’s Dino Prizmic (2-6, 6-2, 6-4). Despite an impressive first set, the lack of match rhythm became evident as the match progressed.
This early exit leaves Djokovic without the opportunity to gain valuable playing time before Roland Garros, unless he decides to compete in Geneva, as he did last year when he won the title the week before the French Grand Slam. Regardless, the Serbian will arrive in Paris without a single victory in the major tournaments of the warm-up tour—a scenario that also played out last season when he lost his opening matches in Monte Carlo and Madrid.
This year, Djokovic skipped both of those events, opting instead for the Italian capital, but luck did not favor him there either. He started brilliantly, playing incredible tennis and hitting every ball right on the line, leaving Prizmic with no options. However, the ease with which he took the first set did not reflect the true nature of the match, which tightened as soon as the Croatian found his footing, showcasing his quality.
Prizmic capitalized on Djokovic’s worst moments and returned the favor with the same scoreline to level the match. Djokovic recovered at the start of the third set, but he had given too much court to a now fully confident Prizmic, who after securing the break remained unfazed by the moment and closed out the match without too much trouble.
It was a huge victory for Prizmic against ‘Nole’, proving that the Serbian is currently far from his best form. Paris is just around the corner, and action at Roland Garros begins in barely two weeks without its reigning king. Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal opens up opportunities for Djokovic, who we know responds well when the big tournaments arrive, but improvements are urgently needed.
Whether or not he chooses to play in Geneva, Djokovic must raise his level significantly before starting his campaign at Roland Garros.
