World number four Novak Djokovic has offered his assessment after a surprising second-round exit at the Rome Masters. The Serbian tennis great was defeated by Croatian rising star Dino Prizmic, ranked 79th in the world, in a three-set battle that ended 6-2, 2-6, 4-6.
When asked if he was deeply disappointed with his performance, Djokovic pushed back against the notion that he played poorly. He acknowledged that the second set was one to forget, citing how he felt on the court during that period. However, he pointed to the first and third sets as evidence of good play, describing the overall match as an excellent fight.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was candid about the gap between his current form and his desired level. He stated that he is "half a step behind" where he needs to be to compete at the maximum level and make deep runs in tournaments. This honest self-evaluation comes as Djokovic continues to work his way back into competitive rhythm.
Djokovic explained that the key is simply to play matches. He expressed a desire to have started his clay-court season earlier but noted that circumstances did not allow it. His philosophy now is to adapt to the current situation and extract the maximum from it, regardless of the challenges.
The former world number one emphasized his commitment to training, stating he works as hard as his body permits. He also highlighted the inherent unpredictability of match play, suggesting that results on court can be difficult to forecast despite thorough preparation. This loss to the 19-year-old Prizmic marks another step in Djokovic's ongoing journey to find his best form.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.