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Djokovic Returns, Sinner Eyes Historic Sixth Masters Crown at Italian Open

Novak Djokovic returns from injury at the Italian Open, seeded third and placed in the bottom half. Jannik Sinner leads the top half as the favorite, chasing a record sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title. Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev are among other top contenders in the draw. With Carlos Alcaraz absent, the tournament is a key clay-court event ahead of Roland Garros.

Key Points: Italian Open 2026: Djokovic Returns, Sinner Targets Record

  • Novak Djokovic returns from injury at Italian Open
  • Jannik Sinner seeks sixth straight ATP Masters 1000 title
  • Djokovic in bottom half, potential Zverev semifinal
  • Sinner top favorite in Alcaraz's absence
2 min read

Italian Open: Djokovic returns, Sinner eyes historic sixth straight Masters crown as draws unveiled

Novak Djokovic returns from injury at the Italian Open as Jannik Sinner aims for a record sixth straight ATP Masters 1000 title. Draw unveiled.

"The Italian Open thus shapes up as a pivotal stop on the clay calendar, blending comeback narratives, rising rivalries and a field stacked with contenders - Article"

Rome, May 4

The draw for the Italian Open has set up an intriguing week of top-tier tennis, with Novak Djokovic making his much-anticipated return from injury and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner leading the charge in pursuit of a record-extending sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title.

Djokovic, seeded third, returns to competition after missing Madrid due to a lingering physical issue, opting to prioritise readiness ahead of the clay-court Grand Slam season. The six-time Rome champion has been placed in the bottom half and is set to begin his campaign against either a qualifier or Marton Fucsovics. A potential quarterfinal clash against home favourite Lorenzo Musetti could test his rhythm early, while a semifinal meeting with second seed Alexander Zverev is on the cards.

Zverev, who recently finished runner-up in Madrid, will look to quickly regain momentum. He opens against either Daniel Altmaier or Zhang Zhizhen and could face stern challenges as the tournament progresses, with depth in his section including dangerous floaters and in-form opponents.

In the top half, Sinner arrives as the standout favourite, continuing a dominant 2026 campaign that has seen him pull clear of the field. The Italian will start against either Alex Michelsen or Sebastian Ofner, before a possible early test against Jakub Mensik-one of the rare players to defeat him this season. A fourth-round clash with Arthur Fils could follow, though Sinner recently overcame the Frenchman convincingly in Madrid.

The top half also features a cluster of big names capable of mounting a challenge. Daniil Medvedev, a former Rome champion, faces a difficult opening assignment against either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Tomas Machac. Meanwhile, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime are also positioned in Sinner's half, adding further competition in the latter stages.

Elsewhere, Alex de Minaur could emerge as a potential quarterfinal contender, with his section featuring tricky early matchups that demand consistency from the outset.

With Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury, the spotlight intensifies on Sinner's bid to achieve a rare milestone and on Djokovic's efforts to regain competitive sharpness. The Italian Open thus shapes up as a pivotal stop on the clay calendar, blending comeback narratives, rising rivalries and a field stacked with contenders eyeing momentum ahead of Roland Garros.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The Italian Open draw looks packed! Djokovic needs to shake off the rust quickly if he wants to challenge Zverev or Sinner later. Also, sad that Alcaraz is out injured - his matches with Sinner have been absolute thrillers this year.
V
Vikram M
Honestly, a bit concerned about Djokovic's fitness. He's been nursing that injury for a while now. Rome might be a test, but the real goal is obviously Roland Garros. Sinner on the other hand is just on fire - he's become the man to beat on clay. Let's see if Medvedev or Tsitsipas can cause an upset.
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Emma D
Sinner has been incredible this season 🔥 The home crowd will definitely give him extra energy too. But Djokovic has won Rome six times - that experience is priceless. Should be a cracking tournament! Hoping for some good five-set thrillers.
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Rohit P
Interesting to see de Minaur's section - he's been so consistent lately but those early matches are tricky. And Medvedev vs Tsitsipas in the first round is a blockbuster! That could go either way. Wish we had more Indian players in these big draws though - we need to develop our tennis talent pipeline. 🎾🇮🇳

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