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 Images
Novak Djokovic hadn’t played a 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 his first match at the Italian Open.
“[I] came in to have a match or more, unfortunately it’s only a match, but it’s alright,” Djokovic, who had been drawn to meet world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final, told reporters. “I’m pleased at least that I fought until the end and I want to thank the crowd; it was incredible once again. The support and love that I’ve been getting, it’s something that I don’t take for granted.”
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. He did play the ATP 250 event in Geneva last spring after a couple of early losses on clay, but said he won’t do that this year.
“No, this year, no,” he told reporters. “This year I’ll just go to Paris straight.”
Asked why, he said. “Decision.”
“It’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest,” he added. “I don’t recall last time in the last couple years a preparation where I didn’t have any of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament, it’s always something. It’s kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.
“Yeah, it is frustrating, but at the same time it’s still my decision to perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is.”
Asked if he felt confident going toward the French Open, where he has won three times, Djokovic said with a smile, “I don’t know, I hope so, Let’s see what happens.”
Prižmić, 20, has never won a Grand Slam singles match and had only won 16 Tour-level matches before Friday.
He grew up idolizing Djokovic but 2-all he broke Djokovic for a 3-2 lead. Prižmić then closed it out with an ace at 5-4, 40-15.
With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (wrist) out for the upcoming French Open, Djokovic would be considered a second-tier favorite after Sinner, but it’s hard to know what to make of his chances after this latest performance.
Djokovic turns 39 on May 22.