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ATP Tour Brief: May 9, 2026

Stunning Upset in Rome as Djokovic Falls to Qualifier Prižmić

The Italian Open delivered a massive shock on Friday as 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prižmić stunned Novak Djokovic 7-6, 6-4 in the second round, marking the biggest victory of the young player's career. Playing his first match in two months following injury, Djokovic showed visible signs of physical struggle throughout but fought until the end. The loss comes at a critical moment as the 24-time Grand Slam champion prepares for his push toward a record 25th major title at Roland Garros. Meanwhile, world No. 3 Alexander Zverev safely navigated his Rome opener against fellow German Daniel Altmaier 7-5, 6-3, though the match proved physically demanding over one hour and 45 minutes. Lorenzo Musetti advanced past Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, while other seeds including Tommy Paul and Jiří Lehečka also progressed.

Prize Money Dispute Escalates as Top Players Threaten Grand Slam Boycott

The growing tension between players and Grand Slam organizers intensified as world No. 1 Jannik Sinner joined Aryna Sabalenka in criticizing major tournaments over prize money distribution. Top stars on both the ATP and WTA Tours have openly discussed the possibility of boycotting majors if compensation doesn't improve, though critics argue the threat may backfire on the sport's biggest names. Separately, Tomas Machac withdrew from the Rome singles draw due to illness, handing Daniil Medvedev a walkover into the next round. The Czech world No. 53's absence removes another potential upset threat from a tournament already shaken by Djokovic's early exit.

Sources: Tennis Majors · Tennis365 · Nine · Olympics · Sky Sports · ATP Tour

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15 - LOVE

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Showing 1-21 of 63 storiesPage 1 of 3
atptour.comMay 2026

Novak Djokovic on Rome loss: 'I'm pleased at least that I fought 'til the end'

Djokovic reacts to his shock first-round loss at the Italian Open, giving credit to Prizmic and explaining his physical struggles on court during his first match back after two months away.

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aljazeera.comMay 2026

Top tennis players could boycott French Open over prize money: Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have threatened a boycott of the French Open if women's prize money is not increased to match broader tournament revenue shares.

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tennisthreads.netMay 2025

Madrid | Sabalenka slides past Svitolina to meet Gauff in final | Tennis Threads Magazine

Saturday's final at this year's first WTA 1000 clay-court event will pit Sabalenka against 4th-seeded Coco Gauff, who dispatched defending champion ...

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tennismajors.comMay 2026

Machac withdraws from Rome with illness, Medvedev through on walkover - Tennis Majors

Tomas Machac, the Czech world No. 53, withdrew from the singles draw with illness, the ATP confirmed. ... Tennis Majors takes you back in time to relive ...

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wtatennis.comMay 2026

'Happy with the level': Sabalenka takes out Krejcikova with straight-sets win in Rome

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Barbora Krejcikova 6-2, 6-3 in the Rome second round, extending her head-to-head record to 7-1 and bouncing back from her shock loss in Madrid.

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tennis.comMay 2025

“Motivated” Naomi Osaka reaches semifinals at WTA 125 in Saint-Malo | Tennis.com

After the former No. 1 lost early in Madrid, coach Patrick Mouratoglou told Second Serve “the thing she needs the most” is to just play more ...

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tennis365.comMay 2026

Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka warned they are wrong to threaten a Grand Slam boycott

The top players on both the ATP and WTA Tour have continued to criticise tennis' major tournaments for the prize money given at Grand Slams.

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tennismajors.comMay 2026

“More natural, more solid, kind of disciplined”: Iga Swiatek's early verdict on working with ...

... WTA Tour, Swiatek herself was reaching for a vocabulary that ... Every day, Tennis Majors looks back to the biggest moments in tennis history....

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thetennisgazette.comMay 2025

Casper Ruud states what he's noticed about all the youngsters on the ATP Tour now after ...

Casper Ruud says all the young players on the ATP Tour 'rip the ball from both sides' as he makes a comment on how tennis balls have changed.

1+ year ago...Read more →
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atptour.comMay 2026

Watch how Dino Prizmic upset Novak Djokovic in Rome | ATP Tour | Tennis

Look back at the key video moments from Dino Prizmic's standout win against Novak Djokovic in Rome on Friday.

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tenniscanada.comMay 2026

Fernandez Shocked in Rome Opener; Mboko Withdraws - Tennis Canada

WTA. Andreescu, Shapovalov Lose Out in Rome. Bianca Andreescu and Denis Shapovalov were unable to extend their times in the Eternal City as the ...

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tennis365.comMay 2025

Jack Draper joins Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas in criticising new Masters 1000 format

The ongoing Madrid Open is one of the seven Masters tournaments that the ATP Tour has expanded to two weeks (12 days), along with Indian Wells, Miami, ...

1+ year ago...Read more →
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tennis.comMay 2026

Rome Previews: Novak Djokovic is back, and his timing may be perfect | Tennis.com

In between, the 19-year-old Spaniard made himself the ATP's Next Big Thing with a 250 title, a 500 semifinal, a strong showing against Jannik Sinner, ...

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tennisworldusa.orgMay 2026

Rome: Zheng Qinwen survives turbulent start to beat No. 31 seed in 2R

Zheng Qinwen overcame a strong first-set challenge from Cristina Bucsa to win 7-6(6), 6-2, with her third-round opponent to be determined by a match between Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko.

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tennis365.comMay 2025

Coco Gauff hits stunning milestones as she thrashes Iga Swiatek in Madrid Open shocker

Gauff beat Swiatek in the round-robin stage of the 2024 WTA Finals and the final of the United Cup back in January, before Thursday's lopsided affair ...

1+ year ago...Read more →
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atptour.comMay 2026

Alexander Blockx overcomes Federico Cina in Rome | ATP Tour | Tennis

Alexander Blockx was given an immediate reminder of just how tough it is to earn ATP Masters 1000 success on Thursday in Rome, but the Belgian ...

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espn.comMay 2026

Italian Open, amid Slam push, sides with players on prize money - ESPN

Italian Open organizers are supporting tennis players who are urging a boycott unless the Grand Slam tournaments improve their prize money.

WTARead more →
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wtatennis.comMay 2025

Gauff drops only two games vs. Swiatek, rolls into Madrid final - WTA

In just over an hour, Coco Gauff took down Iga Swiatek with near-flawless tennis to move into the Mutua Madrid final.

1+ year ago...Read more →
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atptour.comMay 2026

Novak Djokovic in Rome: 'I am ready enough to compete' | ATP Tour | Tennis

“I am ready enough to compete,” Djokovic told ATP Media before his opening match in Rome. “I am not the happiest with the level of tennis or the ...

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benrothenberg.comMay 2026

A War's New Battle Inside Women's Tennis - Bounces | Ben Rothenberg

An interview with outspoken Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova, who has been at odds with the WTA over her comments about stars like Aryna Sabalenka.

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tennis365.comMay 2025

Meet the lucky loser enjoying an incredible run of fortune at the Madrid Open - Tennis365

“Tennis is up and down, so you just try and manage. Luckily, today I managed to flip and win the match.” This is Diallo's best run at an ATP 1000 ...

1+ year ago...Read more →
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30 - LOVE

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