Overview
- Novak Djokovic, which began his campaign Friday, fell 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in his first match of the Italian Open.
- It was Djokovic’s first match since mid-March and his first on clay this season after a right-shoulder issue kept him out of Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.
- Reporters noted he looked unwell in the second set, and the defeat snapped his perfect 18-0 record in opening matches at the Rome Masters.
- Djokovic confirmed he will not take a Geneva wild card, so his next outing will be at Roland Garros with only one clay match—and a loss—behind him.
- Prizmic, 20 and ranked No. 79, backed up last month’s win over Ben Shelton, advanced in Rome, and wrote “Nole it was a pleasure” on the camera after the upset.