Rome, May 9 (IANS): Six-time Italian Open champion Novak Djokovic suffered a shock first-round exit at the hands of world No. 79 Dario Prizmic on Friday, with the 20-year-old Croatian qualifier coming back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 in three sets – marking the first time Djokovic has lost his opening match in Rome in 19 appearances. Prizmic, who had previously beaten Ben Shelton on his way to the third round at the Madrid Masters last month, now boasts two top-10 wins to his name and next faces Ugo Humbert as he bids to reach the fourth round at this level for the first time. Djokovic appeared in control early, securing two breaks to comfortably take the first set in just 40 minutes, but his level dropped sharply in the second set as his shots lost depth, his precision faded, and visible signs of stomach discomfort began to unravel his composure, leaving him trailing 4-0 before Prizmic levelled the match.
In the deciding third set, Djokovic initially stayed competitive but faltered at the first critical moment, surrendering his serve on the very first break point he faced and never recovering from that crucial lapse. Unable to generate a single break opportunity of his own, Djokovic repeatedly tried to pressure the young Croatian into errors, but Prizmic held firm with remarkable composure and sealed the biggest win of his career with an ace – his third of the match. The defeat raises concerns over Djokovic’s fitness and form ahead of Roland Garros later this month, where the world No. 4 will be chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. Earlier this year, Djokovic had reached the Australian Open final after defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, making his early exit in Rome all the more surprising.