05/08/26 02:22:00
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05/08 14:20 CDT Djokovic beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years younger than
him at the Italian Open
Djokovic beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years younger than him at the
Italian Open
ROME (AP) --- Novak Djokovic was beaten by a Croatian qualifier 18 years
younger than him at the Italian Open on Friday in his first match after two
months out due to a right shoulder injury.
The 20-year-old Dino Pri?mic defeated the record 24-time Grand Slam champion
2-6, 6-2, 6-4 with an ace on his first match point.
The 38-year-old Djokovic hadn't played since March when he lost to Jack Draper
in the fourth round in Indian Wells, California.
Djokovic had taping on his right shoulder that was revealed when he changed
shirts between sets.
He declined to talk about any ailments, not wanting to take any focus from
Pri?mic. But Djokovic admitted he wanted more than one match at his only warmup
for the French Open.
Djokovic didn't surprise himself in his only competitive clay-court match
before the French, though he thought the second set was forgettable.
"I see what I'm missing," he said. "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. The situation is as it is. You make the most out of it.
I train hard. I train as much as the body allows me to. Then how it turns out
on the court, that's really unpredictable."
Asked if he was confident he'll be in good shape for the French Open which
starts in 16 days, Djokovic said, "I don't know." With a smile he added, "I
hope so."
In Djokovic's only other tournament this year, he reached the Australian Open
final and lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
The 79th-ranked Pri?mic lost a four-setter to Djokovic in their only previous
match at the 2024 Australian Open. Djokovic told him on Friday his forehand had
improved and he'll go far if he can stay healthy. Pri?mic beat No. 6 Ben
Shelton at the Madrid Open last month.
"He's my idol," Pri?mic said of Djokovic. "I just played unbelievably today."
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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