Novak Djokovic endured a chaotic outing at the 2026 Italian Open, with his campaign ending before it could properly get going. The Serb has also made a surprising scheduling decision ahead of the French Open.
Djokovic began his clay-court swing in Rome after skipping key events such as the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open. Entering as the third seed in the absence of Carlos Alcaraz, he faced 20-year-old Dino Prizmic, ranked No. 79 and fresh out of qualifying.
In a stunning result, Djokovic fell 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, marking the first time in 19 appearances that he has lost his opening match in Rome. Despite the upset, a standout moment came at the net, where the Serbian shared a warm embrace with Prizmic, who has long idolized him.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Novak Djokovic confirmed that he will not play any additional tournaments before heading to Roland Garros. This means he will arrive in Paris without a single clay-court win this season, something that has never happened in his career. The only remaining clay events before the Grand Slam are the Hamburg Open and the Geneva Open.
Novak Djokovic Downplays French Open Chances
Novak Djokovic addressed the media following his second-round loss to Dino Prizmic at the 2026 Italian Open, where he opened up about his chances at the upcoming French Open.
The Serb admitted that his preparation heading into Roland Garros hasn’t been ideal, acknowledging that dealing with physical issues at this stage is unfamiliar territory for him. He noted that in previous seasons, he would arrive much better prepared, but this time, the situation is different and far from what he’s used to.
Djokovic said:
“it’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest. I don’t recall last time I had in the last couple years a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There’s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.”
“Yeah, it is frustrating. At the same time, it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is. I don’t know. I hope so. Let’s see what happens,” he added.
Novak Djokovic has a golden opportunity to clinch a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title in Paris this year, especially in the absence of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard is currently sidelined with a wrist injury, which opens up the draw significantly, and the Serb will be eager to capitalize on this chance.
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