Croatian tennis sensation Dino Prižmić (20) secured a career-defining victory by defeating world-renowned Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Rome Masters, with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Despite a delayed start due to rain and lengthy preceding matches, Prižmić displayed exceptional mental resilience and quality to overcome the most successful player of all time.
Following his monumental triumph, Prižmić stated: "It's hard to put into words. I have a lot of respect for Novak, who is my idol. I played phenomenally and want to focus on being prepared for the next match. In the first set, he was incredible, and then I realized I needed to change something. By the end of the second set, I found my game, and it worked out. I'll prepare as best as I can for the next match and try to win." Watch his statement HERE.
A Stunning Turnaround After a Promising Start
The match began with Djokovic appearing confident and quickly taking Prižmić's serve, winning the first set 6-2 with two breaks. The young Croatian made several unforced errors, but it was this aggressive approach that paid off later.
The second set saw a complete turnaround. Prižmić started furiously, breaking Djokovic's serve without losing a point and quickly established a lead of 4-0. Although Djokovic fought back and won two games, Prižmić remained composed, saved a break point, and sealed the set 6-2, evening the match.
Drama in the Third Set and a Historic Win
The deciding third set was a battle. Both players held their serves at the beginning. The turning point occurred at 2-2 when Prižmić secured the only break point of the set. He then confirmed the break and led 4-2, maintaining a high level of play. Under pressure, Prižmić, with a 5-4 lead, served to win and delivered one of the match's best games. With several brilliant serves, including an ace to clinch the match, he secured his greatest career victory.
A Career-Defining Win
Prižmić's victory over Djokovic, the world's fourth-ranked player, represents his biggest triumph. His only other win against a top-10 player was against Ben Shelton two weeks ago. Prižmić will next face the winner of the match between Ugo Humbert and Vito Kraizer in the third round of the ATP Masters 1100 tournament in Rome.
