Six-Time Champion Novak Djokovic Stunned In First Match At Italian Open

BusinessSportsMoneySix-Time Champion Novak Djokovic Stunned In First Match At Italian OpenByAdam Zagoria,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a basketball and tennis insiderFollow AuthorMay 08, 2026, 02:24pm EDTMay 08, 2026, 02:26pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts as he plays against Croatia's Dino Prizmic during their men's singles match of the WTA Rome Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 8, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty ImagesNovak Djokovic hadn’t played a first professional tennis match in over two months due to a shoulder injury.The Serbian legend hadn’t played a clay court match in nearly 11 months.And in his return to the dirt on Friday, Djokovic got sick and threw up on court during the second set of his 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 loss to world No. 79 Dino Prižmić of Croatia in the first round of the Italian Open.The 24-time Grand Slam champion and six-time Italian Open winner had been a perfect 18-0 in his first-round matches in Rome, and his loss begs the question of whether he will play in a smaller event ahead of the start of Roland Garros on May 24. He did play the ATP 250 event in Geneva last spring after a couple of early losses on clay.Prižmić, 20, has never won a Grand Slam singles match and had only won 18 Tour-level matches before Friday. He’s now beaten Djokovic and world No. 6 Ben Shelton (Madrid) in the last 14 days.MORE FOR YOUDjokovic had no aces in the match and was broken three times. He won just 58% of his second-serve points.With Carlos Alcaraz (wrist) out for the upcoming French Open, Djokovic would be considered a second-tier favorite after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, but it’s hard to know what to make of his chances after this latest performance.Djokovic turns 39 on May 22.Editorial StandardsReprints...