NOLE FOUGHT, BUT HE DID NOT PREVAIL: Young Croat defeated Djokovic at the start of the tournament in Rome! (VIDEO)

The best Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic failed to qualify for the 3rd round of the Masters in Rome, as he was defeated by Dino Prizmic with a score of 2:1 (2:6, 6:2, 6:4).

Novak returned to the court after 57 days and the match on March 12 in Indian Wells. However, he failed to find continuity, so he ended his participation in Rome in the very first match. This is a historical defeat for Novak in the capital of Italy, as he has never before been eliminated before the third round.

Djokovic, the record holder with 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles won, has won the tournament in Rome as many as six times.

A shot like his idol against his idol 🙌#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/q8bfkOJAIT
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 8, 2026

Nevertheless, before the start of the tournament, Djokovic announced that his main goal is the Grand Slam Roland Garros.

Novak started the match brilliantly and won that part of the match 6:2 with two breaks. Djokovic missed a break point in the fourth game, but not in the sixth when he took a 4:2 lead. He tied together two more games to win the first set.

The moment he’s always dreamed of 🥹

Dino Prizmic serves up an ace to complete the 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 upset of his idol Novak Djokovic!#IBI26 | @atptour pic.twitter.com/TV1EPG5CYz
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 8, 2026

The second set began in a shocking way. Prizmic won the first four games and then easily brought the set to a close with a score of 6:2. It was noticeable during the set that Novak had problems with movement and breathing, but he did not ask for a medical time-out.

Prizmic was also the first to reach a break in the third set. He took Novak’s serve in the fifth game and then confirmed it.

Novak chased the man from Split for a re-break, but he did not succeed.