Rome, May 4 (IANS) 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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