ATP Tour

Djokovic on Rome loss: 'I'm pleased at least that I fought till the end'

After falling in his opening match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia for the first time in his career Friday, Novak Djokovic gave full credit to opponent Dino Prizmic and was not interested in delving into his physical struggles on court.

“I hope you understand I will not talk about that. I want to congratulate Dino. Deservedly the winner today,” Djokovic said. “Came in to have a match or more. Unfortunately only a match. It's alright. I'm pleased at least that I fought till the end. I want to thank the crowd. It was incredible once again.

“The support and love that I've been getting, it's something I don't take for granted.”

The 38-year-old explained that he has trained hard, and “as much as the body allows” him to. But competing for the first time since Indian Wells in March, the Serbian was simply unable to battle past Prizmic.

“I didn't play so bad. I don't think I played so bad, to be honest. Okay, the second set was something to forget obviously the way I felt on the court. But the first and third was good. It was okay. It was a good battle in the end,” Djokovic said. “Obviously I see what I'm missing. Late half a step. I'm not definitely where I want to be for the highest level and to compete at the highest level and to be able to get far.

“Eventually you have to play. You have to start somewhere. I wanted to start earlier, but I couldn't. So yeah, that's what it is. The situation is as it is. You just adapt to it and make the most out of it.”

Djokovic faced Prizmic for the first time in the first round of the 2024 Australian Open, where the Croatian won a set. So it was always going to be a tricky test for the record 40-time ATP Masters 1000 titlist.

“I thought that he possesses a lot of talent and potential,” Djokovic said of their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting two years ago. “Hopefully he can stay healthy because I know he struggled a lot with injuries. If things come together, he can really go far in the rankings.”

Djokovic said of Prizmic: “He's a great competitor, great fighter, a great kid. I've known him for some years. Obviously we speak the same language, so I always wish him all the best.

“Today he has definitely performed a high-level tennis. I told him at the net that his forehand improved a lot. Whatever he has been doing with his team is working out well. He should just keep going.”

In each of the past two years, Djokovic has competed in Geneva before Roland Garros. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings said he will go straight to Paris this season, straight off the back of what he admitted was “not an ideal preparation” for Rome.

“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,” Djokovic said. “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.”