After shedding in his opening match at Rome for the primary time in his profession, Novak Djokovic congratulated his opponent Dino Prizmic then signed autographs for his followers on courtroom, earlier than heading off to applause.
Not what the six-time champion wished for a Friday on the Foro Italico, however at the least Djokovic is again on the courtroom and has taken his first step on the highway to Roland-Garros.
“It’s not perfect preparation, to be sincere,” he stated to reporters instantly after the three-set loss to the 20-year-old who grew up idolizing him. “I don’t recall the final time I had within the final couple years a preparation the place I didn’t have any type of bodily points or well being points coming into the event. There’s at all times one thing. Sort of a brand new actuality that I’ve to take care of.
“It’s irritating. On the identical time it’s my choice to nonetheless carry out in that type of state and situations. It’s what it’s.”
Djokovic withdrew from this 12 months’s Miami Open after reaching the spherical of 16 at Indian Wells. Friday’s loss to Prizmic was his first match since early March.
Requested if he would contemplate taking part in in Geneva, the place performed in 2024 and returned to seize his one centesimal profession ATP title in 2025, throughout the week of Roland-Garros qualifying, Djokovic stated it isn’t his intention.
“This 12 months, I’ll simply go to Paris straight,” he stated.
Djokovic talked about his difficulties forward of the event, telling ATP Media that he was probably not happy along with his degree – but.
“I’m prepared sufficient to compete,” he stated, including: “I’m probably not the happiest with the extent of tennis or the place I’m with my motion or the bodily state, nevertheless it’s getting there.
“I wished to be again on the tour earlier, however I couldn’t. I used to be injured, and so I needed to take care of it progressively.”
