Djoko comeback falls flat with Rome defeat

Novak Djokovic slipped to defeat in his first match in two months as the three-time Rome Masters champion lost his second-round debut on Friday 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 to challenger Dino Priznic.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion had not played since the Indian Wells Masters in early March suffered his first defeat in a Rome opening match after 18 previous wins at this stage as he went down in two and a quarter hours.    

The player who turns 39 in less than a fortnight was competing in only his third tournament of 2026, sitting out weeks with various injuries.

Djokovic, a six-time champion here,  was back at the Foro Italico after skipping the Italian pre-Roland Garros tune-up last season for the first time since 2005

No. 70 Croat Priznic came out of qualifying rounds to face the longtime former world No. 1 and sealed victory with an ace.

Djokovic fell down a break after losing the second set obviously feeling poorly, though he did not call for the trainer.

The Serb veteran was broken to trail 3-2 in the third set but could not fight back as his opponent lost just five points on serve in the set to clinch the biggest win of his career.   

Main photo:- Dino Prizmic celebrates after shock win over Novak Djokovic – by ATPTour.com