In 2024, Novak Djokovic said that facing Dino Prismic in the opening round of the Australian Open felt like playing against himself in the mirror. At that time, Djokovic prevailed in four sets. But two years later, Prizmik turned the tables and knocked the Serbian out of the Italian Open 2026.

On Friday, Djokovic suffered a shocking exit in the second round in Rome, losing to the Croatian qualifier. The 24-time Grand Slam champion suffered a 6-2, 2-6, 4-6 defeat in his opening match of the tournament, one of the most disappointing defeats of his 2026 season.

Djokovic entered the Italian Open seeded third and received a bye into the first round, meaning his match against 20-year-old Prizmik was technically his opening match of the tournament.

The defeat was particularly surprising given Djokovic’s remarkable record in Rome, where he has won six titles and rarely struggled in the opening rounds. Actually, this was the first time that Djokovic lost his opening match at the Italian Open.

Prismic makes a comeback

The Serbian made a strong start to the match and looked in complete control during the opening set. Djokovic combined his trademark baseline consistency with delicate drop shots and sharp returns to win the first set 6–2. Prismic made 13 unforced errors in the opening match and initially looked overwhelmed by the occasion.

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However, the momentum changed dramatically in the second set. Prizmik began to strike the ball with much greater confidence, repeatedly testing Djokovic’s movement with heavy groundstrokes.

At the same time, Djokovic’s level dropped significantly. The Serb looked physically uncomfortable and even vomited on the court during the match. Djokovic looked unwell and was struggling badly with his movement after the first set.

Prizmik took full advantage of Djokovic’s struggles and won four consecutive games at the start of the second set to eventually level the contest. The Croatian, who had already impressed by defeating World No. 6 Ben Shelton in Madrid, continued to play fearless tennis in the deciding game.

Djokovic attempted to mount a comeback in the third set, but his usually reliable ground game looked unusually shaky. Prismic remained composed during key moments and ultimately earned the biggest win of his young career. The Croatian arrived in Rome with his career-highest ranking of No. 79 and has now recorded two wins over top-10 players in recent weeks.

Concerns before French Open

This defeat has once again raised concerns over Djokovic’s physical condition before the French Open. The Serbian had not played since Indian Wells after suffering a shoulder injury in March that caused him to miss tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.

At 38, Djokovic is still chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, but his lack of match fitness and recurring physical problems have made his preparations more difficult. With young stars like Jannik Sinner dominating the ATP Tour, Djokovic is now under increasing pressure to recapture his best form before Roland Garros begins later this month.

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