Novak Djokovic’s defeat yesterday came as a real surprise, but what we have since learned has shed further light on the reasons why he lost to Dino Prizmic.
After all, with stomach issues during the match, in what was his first clay-court match of the campaign, his fitness was clearly well below par.
However, what makes things even more worrying is the decision the Serbian made immediately after his defeat, which he explained in his press conference.
Djokovic confirmed he would be playing no more clay-court matches before Roland Garros.
This means that he will head to Paris with just one match and no wins under his belt, and Tracy Austin simply cannot get her head around it.
Tracy Austin and Jim Courier analyse Novak Djokovic’s loss at the Italian Open
Discussing that revelation, the American pundit admitted to Tennis Channel that she was ‘kind of surprised’.
Austin continued: “He clearly knows what’s best for him. I mean, we’re never gonna doubt what Novak has to think, but I was surprised that he made such a definitive answer so quickly after losing a match like this, because we know that last year he went there, he won the title.
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Novak Djokovic lost to Dino Prizmic in his opening match…
“He hasn’t played. What has he played, like, 10, 12 matches this year? Third tournament overall.
“And I would feel like going into a major, this is now three out of five sets, and you haven’t played since Indian Wells, that he’d want at least a few matches.
“That kind of surprised me that he made… There must be a reason why Novak, you know, maybe he’s not feeling good physically elsewhere.
“I just don’t know. That surprises me.”
Jim Courier did try to rationalise the decision, telling Austin: I think that he has so much trust at this point, and so much experience that I think a lot of the things that maybe you and I would have thought of in our career maybe don’t qualify for him because he’s played so much longer than we did.”
He concluded by explaining why Novak Djokovic’s decision is not as worrying as some might think, adding: “Obviously, his stomach wasn’t right today, but I would think if I’m on his team, the most important thing is we got to protect your body and trust that the first couple of rounds, when you’re protected from playing anyone ranked inside the top 35 in the world, you can work your way into form.
“You’ll get two matches there that you should, in theory, comfortably win.”
Novak Djokovic’s huge praise for Dino Prizmic after their match
Having already waxed lyrical about Prizmic in the past, after their 2024 showdown at the Australian Open, it should come as no surprise that Djokovic’s affection for the 20-year-old has only grown after this fine Italian Open showing.
“He’s a great competitor, great fighter, a great kid,” he began, speaking at his press conference, highlighting his forehand as a particularly fearsome shot that has come a long way in two years.
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The 24-time Grand Slam champion finished by insisting: “If things come together, he can really go far in the rankings.”
Djokovic rated his own level after the match, admitting if he was surprised by how much he struggled at times.
Prizmic currently sits 78th in the ATP live rankings.
