Tennis legend Novak Djokovic was stunned by a 20-year-old Croatian qualifier in the second round of the Italian Open, a Masters Series event in Rome. The match marked Djokovic's return to action after nearly two months of recovery from a shoulder injury. The younger player, Dino Prizmic, defeated the 38-year-old Djokovic with scores of 6-2, 2-6, 4-6. Prizmic had never faced Djokovic before this match, having previously lost to him in the Australian Open in 2024.

Djokovic, who hadn't played since March, when he withdrew from the Indian Wells tournament due to injury, was seen wearing a bandage on his shoulder during the match. After the match, he refrained from discussing his physical condition, emphasizing the focus on Prizmic's victory. He admitted that he wanted to show more in this tournament, which is a preparation for the French Open. Djokovic also noted that he wasn't surprised by his performance but wished to quickly forget about the second set.

Prizmic, ranked 79th in the world, received high praise from Djokovic for his significant improvement in his forehand stroke and was encouraged to aim for great heights if he stays healthy. "He is my idol. But today I played incredibly," the Croatian teenager said.

In the second set, Prizmic led 4-0 before tying the match. In the third set, he capitalized on two consecutive errors from Djokovic, leading to 3-2 and maintained his serve to clinch the match with an ace. Prizmic's next opponent will be French veteran Hugo Humbert, ranked 33rd, who defeated Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic in straight sets.

Earlier in the day, the German match saw Alexander Zverev, ranked third in the world, defeating Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3. Zverev faced unexpected challenges with his serve but managed to secure the win thanks to his superior physical condition. Kaspar Ruud of Norway and Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan also won their matches easily, as did American Tommy Paul, who defeated Australian Alexander Vukic.