In a stunning upset at the Italian Open, six-time champion Novak Djokovic suffered an unexpected defeat in his first match back from injury, leaving fans and analysts questioning his form ahead of the French Open.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner, who hadn't played a professional match in over two months due to a shoulder injury, returned to clay court action only to fall 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to world No. 79 Dino Prižmić of Croatia. The match took a dramatic turn when Djokovic fell ill and vomited on court during the second set.

Djokovic, who had been a perfect 18-0 in first-round matches at the Italian Open, struggled throughout the contest. He failed to record a single ace, was broken three times, and won just 58% of his second-serve points—statistics that are uncharacteristic for the Serbian legend.

For 20-year-old Prižmić, this victory marks a career highlight. The young Croatian, who has never won a Grand Slam singles match and had only 18 Tour-level wins before Friday, now boasts victories over both Djokovic and world No. 6 Ben Shelton (in Madrid) over the past two weeks.

The loss raises immediate questions about Djokovic's preparation for Roland Garros, which begins May 24. With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to a wrist injury, Djokovic was considered a second-tier favorite behind world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. However, this performance suggests he may need additional match play, potentially at a smaller tournament like last year's ATP 250 event in Geneva, where he competed after early clay-court exits.

For tennis fans and players alike, this upset serves as a reminder that even the greatest champions face challenges on their return from injury—and that the sport's depth continues to grow, with rising stars like Prižmić ready to seize their moment on the big stage.