In a stunning upset at the 2026 Italian Open, Novak Djokovic fell to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in the Round of 64. The 20-year-old Prizmic, now ranked a career-best 79th in the world, rallied after dropping the first set to take the next two and secure the victory.

Djokovic, widely regarded as the greatest men's tennis player of all time, showed signs of vulnerability as he approaches his 39th birthday on May 22. The Serbian legend had not played competitive tennis since Indian Wells in early March—a two-month layoff due to physical issues. For an athlete on the cusp of 39, that break is significant, especially when facing a competitor half his age who had already logged match wins on the clay surface at this tournament.

While Djokovic likely hoped to gain valuable match practice ahead of Roland Garros, the early exit raises questions about his form. The transition from hardcourts to clay, compounded by injury recovery, may have left him underprepared. Yet, it's too soon to write him off entirely.

Since winning the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Djokovic has struggled to replicate that success in Grand Slam events—two-week tournaments demanding best-of-five-set endurance. His best chance came at the 2026 Australian Open, where he benefited from a walkover (Jakub Mensik) and a retirement (Lorenzo Musetti) in consecutive rounds, reducing the physical toll. Still, he fell to Jannik Sinner in five sets in the semifinals.

At his current level, another Grand Slam title seems unlikely, but Djokovic has repeatedly defied Father Time. He proved that in Paris, where the best-of-three format played to his strengths. Tennis fans know better than to count him out until he decides to walk away—a moment he has hinted will come at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For now, this loss in Rome is a reminder that even the greats are human, but the champion's heart still beats.