Dino Prizmic had nothing to lose. The 20-year-old Croatian, ranked 87th in the world, had already won two qualifying matches when he stepped onto the Manolo Santana court to face Matteo Berrettini, a former world number six and 2021 Madrid finalist. In one hour and 38 minutes, the youngster swept away all expectations: 6-3, 6-4, without ever looking troubled.
The key to the match lay in Prizmic's ability to neutralize Berrettini's serve, usually the weapon that dictates the Italian's matches. The Croatian extended rallies on return, forcing Berrettini out of his comfort zone. Every service game became a contest, where they are normally formalities. The break came in the first set, and the tone was set.
In the second set, Prizmic maintained the same intensity. His solid, varied baseline game prevented Berrettini from finding any rhythm. The Italian piled up errors under pressure, unable to recapture the consistency that once made him so dangerous on Madrid's red clay. At 6-4, it was over.
For Berrettini, currently ranked 92nd, this first-round exit extends a rollercoaster season. The former Roland-Garros semi-finalist continues to struggle after recurring physical setbacks. Madrid, where he reached the final against Zverev in 2021, is no longer a happy hunting ground.
Prizmic has now won three matches in three days at the Caja Mágica. His reward: a second-round clash with , the fourth seed and recent Munich champion. A generational showdown awaits, pitting a confident Shelton riding his clay-court form against a Prizmic who clearly fears nobody.
