Novak Djokovic falls to Italian Open upset against Dino Prižmić after apparent stomach issues

Novak Djokovic cruised through the opening set in Rome, but was beset by physical issues during the second. Filippo Monteforte / Getty Images Share article4ROME — Novak Djokovic is out of the Italian Open, losing his first match in two months to the Croatian qualifier Dino Prižmić. Having been out injured since losing to Jack Draper at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., in early March, Djokovic wore strapping on his shoulder and ultimately succumbed to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 defeat to the 20-year-old world No. 79. It was illness more than injury that appeared to hamper Djokovic on Friday, as he faded badly after winning the first set and seemed to be struggling with a stomach issue. Djokovic, 38, was barely moving between points during the second set, and Prižmić exploited his sluggishness with consistently punishing drop shots. Djokovic, meanwhile, tried to shorten points by hitting drop shots of his own, but the tactic kept backfiring, with Prižmić able to chase them down and fire away winners. Prižmić grew up idolising Djokovic and pushed him all the way in a four-set defeat at the Australian Open a couple of years ago. Djokovic, a 10-time champion, was hugely impressed by what he’d seen and said during a television interview afterward that “it felt at some point I was playing myself in a mirror.” Prižmić, who was only 18 at the time, hasn’t been able to kick on since that breakout moment in Melbourne — in large part because of a right wrist injury. But he beat world No. 6 Ben Shelton at the Madrid Open last month, and possesses phenomenal firepower. A diminished Djokovic ultimately couldn’t live with Prižmić, and after breaking for 3-2 in the final set, Prižmić held his nerve against a partisan crowd to serve out the match. A chaotic end to the match saw Djokovic asking for the court to be swept at the final change of ends and crying out in frustration, with the crowd making so much noise in favor of the 24-time Grand Slam champion that it felt like a Davis Cup tie. Prižmić showed considerable mental fortitude to close out by far the biggest win of his young career, swinging an ace out wide to finish. Djokovic must now decide whether to enter a tournament the week leading up to the French Open, which begins May 24. He did so last year, winning the Geneva Open after losing in his first match in Madrid and then missing the Italian Open. Djokovic ended up reaching the French Open semifinals, offering yet another reminder of why he can never be counted out. With Carlos Alcaraz absent from Paris this year, Djokovic is almost universally viewed as the man most likely to challenge the dominant world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. A fourth French Open title for Djokovic would be a record-breaking 25th major overall. Prižmić, meanwhile, will face the French No. 31 seed Ugo Humbert or Vít Kopřiva of the Czech Republic in the third round Sunday. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms