Novak Djokovic said he is ready enough to compete at the upcoming Italian Open. The Serbian will return to the tour after last playing at the Indian Wells in March. Djokovic had suffered a three-set loss against Britain’s Jack Draper in the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open.

Djokovic said he wanted to get back on the tour earlier, but could not do so because of injury. The Serbian expressed his excitement for being back in the tournament.

“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 movement or the physical state, but it is getting there. I wanted to be back on the Tour earlier, but couldn’t. I was injured, so I had to deal with it progressively. I am here in Rome. I always love coming back, have had great success, so I am excited to be back in competition.”

Djokovic holds a 68-12 record in the Italian capital and he would definitely look to hit the ground running after an injury layoff.

“It is called the tennis colosseum for a reason,” Djokovic said of Rome. “Amazing crowds. The amount of people who come and watch the tournament, the venue is so historic, beautiful. Considering the Italians’ success in men’s and women’s in the last several years, the popularity has grown and you can feel that. There is great energy around the stands.”

Djokovic will begin his Italian Open campaign against Croatia’s Dino Prižmić on Friday. The Croatian had a set off Djokovic at the Australian Open in 2024.