Novak Djokovic Returns From Injury, Loses in Rome
Novak Djokovic made his comeback after a two-month absence but fell to Dino Prizmic, ranked 79th in the world, on Friday.
Published on 08/05/2026 at 20:14, updated on 08/05/2026 at 20:22 Reading Time: 1min
Novak Djokovic faced Dino Prizmic in Rome on May 8, 2026. (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP)
Novak Djokovic has not yet reached his top form. The world No. 4 was eliminated in the 2nd round of the Rome Masters 1000 on Friday, May 8. Djokovic lost to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-4). After dominating the first set, Djokovic encountered physical problems, including leg cramps and what appears to be stomach issues.
During his 19th appearance at the Rome Masters 1000, Djokovic suffered a first-round exit for the first time in his career.
Despite a long break before the third set, Djokovic couldn’t find his rhythm, while Prizmic, at 20 years old, achieved the biggest win of his young career. Djokovic’s return to the court comes after a shoulder injury sustained at Indian Wells forced him to take a break for two months. With Roland-Garros as his ultimate goal, where he hopes to play his best tennis, Djokovic has two weeks to fine-tune his physical condition before the start of the Parisian Grand Slam.
