Novak is back!
The 38-year-old – he turns 39 in two weeks – hasn’t played since losing in the fourth round of Indian Wells just less then two months ago.
Before that, he lost in the Australian Open final at the end of January.
Those are the only two tournaments he has played in 2026. And he’s still No. 4. He has just eight tournaments on his points resumé: the four Slams, this year’s Indian Wells and last year’s Shanghai, and last year’s Geneva – the week before Roland Garros – and Athens in November.
He faces Dino Prizmic, a 20-year-old who impressed more tan two years ago, when as a lucky loser he faced Djokovic in the first round of the Australian and took a set. He was just 18 at the time. He’s now at a career high No. 79.
(Rome is six hours ahead of EDT)
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Location: Rome, Italy
Category: ATP 1000 (Joint event with the WTA Tour)
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Dates: May 6 – 17, 2026
Prize Money: €8,235,540
Draws: S96 – D32
Friday, May 8, 2026
Order of play
Men’s singles, second round
–
Campo Centrale (11 a.m. start – 5 a.m. EDT)
2. [2] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs. Daniel Altmaier (GER) H2H (not before 1 p.m.)
3. [3] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [Q] Dino Prizmic (CRO) H2H
5. [8] Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) H2H (not before 8:30 p.m.)
–
BNP Paribas Arena
1. [6] Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs. [WC] Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) H2H
5. [18] Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs. Yannick Hanfmann (GER) H2H
–
Supertennis Arena
1. [32] Rafael Jodar (ESP) vs. Nuno Borges (POR) H2H
2. [23] Casper Ruud (NOR) vs. Zachary Svajda (USA) H2H
4. [9] Alexander Bublik (KAZ) vs. Sebastian Baez (ARG) H2H
–
Pietrangeli
2. [11] Jiri Lehecka (CZE) vs. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) H2H
4. [16] Tommy Paul (USA) vs. Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) H2H
–
Court 13
3. [29] Tallon Griekspoor (NED) vs. Alexander Blockx (BEL) H2H
4. [31] Ugo Humbert (FRA) vs. Vit Kopriva (CZE) H2H
–
Court 1
1. [13] Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs. Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ) H2H
2. Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) vs. [LL] Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) H2H
–
Court 2
3. [19] Learner Tien (USA) vs. Damir Dzumhur (BIH) H2H
–
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