Novak Djokovic’s highly anticipated campaign at the 2026 Italian Open came to a surprising end in his opening match, as qualifier Dino Prižmić pulled off a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 upset in the Serb’s first clay-court match of the season. However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion still managed to impress his wife, Jelena, with how he handled the disappointing outcome.
How Novak Djokovic’s Wife, Jelena, Reacted to His Italian Open Loss
Following his first-ever opening-round defeat at the Masters 1000 event in Rome, Djokovic earned praise from the tennis community for his gracious behavior with Prižmić at the net despite the loss. He greeted the 20-year-old with a smile and pulled him in for a warm embrace, making the moment especially meaningful for Prižmić, who has spoken about the Serb being his childhood idol.
BIGGEST WIN OF HIS CAREER 🙌
The moment Dino Prizmic defeated the six time champion 🔥#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/Qsdillvs1J
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 8, 2026
The 24-time Grand Slam champion’s display prompted one fan to share a video praising his sportsmanship, saying, “Novak is the most gracious ever when he loses and this was another example why and that’s why I absolutely love Novak Djokovic.”
The fan’s message eventually caught the attention of Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, who also expressed her love for her husband.
“So do I 🥰😍🥰😍🥰😍,” she posted.
The world No. 4 also spoke highly of Prižmić during his post-match press conference and shed light on the encouraging words he had relayed to the 20-year-old at the net.
“He’s a great competitor, great fighter, a great kid. I’ve known him for some years. Obviously we speak the same language, so I always wish him all the best. Today he has definitely performed a high-level tennis. I told him at the net that his forehand improved a lot. Whatever he has been doing with his team is working out well. He should just keep going,” he said.
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Djokovic also opened up about his upcoming schedule, disclosing that he has decided not to defend his title at the Geneva Open and will instead head straight to the French Open. He reflected on the “frustrating” reality of his current situation, acknowledging that his preparation for the event in Rome had been far from ideal.
“Yes, it’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest. I don’t recall last time I had in the last couple years a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There’s always something,” he added.
“Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with. Yeah, it is frustrating. At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is.”
While Novak Djokovic will now shift his attention toward resuming his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, Dino Prižmić will gear up for a tough challenge against Ugo Humbert in the third round of the Italian Open.
