World No. 4 Novak Djokovic suffered a surprising defeat at the Rome Masters on Thursday, falling to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, ranked 79th in the world. The match ended 6-2, 2-6, 4-6 in favor of the underdog after a competitive three-set battle.
The loss marks an early exit for the Serbian tennis legend, who had been hoping to build momentum on the clay courts of Rome. Djokovic, a multiple-time champion at the event, was unable to maintain his strong start after taking the first set convincingly.
Following the match, Djokovic addressed the media at his post-match press conference. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was gracious in defeat, choosing to focus on his opponent's performance rather than his own struggles during the contest.
"I want to congratulate Dino. Today he deservedly became the winner," Djokovic told reporters. The Serbian star acknowledged that while he had hoped to play more matches at the tournament, the early exit was not a major concern in the broader context of his season.
Djokovic also expressed his appreciation for the crowd support he received during the match. "I want to thank the spectators. They were incredible again. I mean the support and love that I receive — I don't take it for granted," he said, highlighting the special atmosphere at the Foro Italico.
When pressed about potential physical issues that might have affected his performance, Djokovic declined to elaborate. "I hope you understand that I won't talk about that," he responded, keeping the focus on the competitive aspects of the match rather than any personal challenges he may have faced.
The defeat represents a setback for Djokovic's clay court preparations ahead of the French Open. However, the veteran champion maintained a positive outlook, noting that he was at least pleased to have competed until the very end of the contest.
Prizmic, the young Croatian talent, will now advance to the third round of the Masters 1000 event, where he will look to continue his impressive run against the world's best players. Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.