After a six-week-long hiatus, Novak Djokovic is back on tour as he looks to prepare for the second Major of the year. The former world No. 1 is all set to take part in the Italian Open this week, marking his fourth event of the year, a tournament he last played in 2024.
Djokovic Makes His Return to Rome
A Disrupted Start to 2026
2026 has been a stop-start year so far for the 24-time Major champion. The year began with Djokovic withdrawing from the Adelaide tournament, disrupting his preparation for the Australian Open. And while that seemed to be the case early in the tournament, as Djokovic found himself two sets down to Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, a stroke of luck, followed by brilliance in the semifinals, saw him reach the final, where he ultimately ran out of gas against Carlos Alcaraz.
Following his run in Melbourne, Djokovic then took his time before returning, withdrawing from Doha. When he eventually did return at Indian Wells, Djokovic struggled for rhythm, eventually falling in a three-set battle to Jack Draper in the fourth round, which was the last time he was in action on a tennis court.
Djokovic’s Dominance in Rome
A six-time champion in Rome, Djokovic’s last outing here was not one of his more successful ones, as he suffered an early straight-sets defeat to Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. Last year, he skipped the event altogether to take part in the Geneva Open, held one week before the French Open, a tournament he went on to win, which was also his 100th career ATP tour title.
That said, Djokovic’s pedigree in Rome is undeniable. As recently as 2022, the Serbian lifted the title without dropping a set. Overall, this is his second-most successful Masters 1000 event in terms of titles won, only behind the ATP Rolex Paris Masters, with six titles and twelve finals appearances to his name, and a staggering 68-12 win-loss record that underscores his dominance on these courts.
A Tough Road Ahead
The path to what would be a historic seventh title in Rome will not come easy for Djokovic, despite one of his biggest challengers, Carlos Alcaraz, being sidelined from the event. Djokovic is set to take on either Marton Fucsovics or qualifier Dino Prizmic in his opening match, which is never a straightforward task, especially given that it will be his first outing on clay this year. He could potentially face Ugo Humbert, Fabian Maroszan, or Vit Kopriva in the third round, with Karen Khachanov or Arthur Rinderknech possibly awaiting him in the fourth round, if seeding holds.
While the early rounds appear manageable for the world No. 4, the latter stages of the tournament could present a stern test. A potential quarterfinal clash with Lorenzo Musetti or Casper Ruud, two very capable players on this surface, followed by a semifinal showdown against Alexander Zverev, a two-time former champion in Rome, could set up a blockbuster final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Such a run would provide the perfect preparation ahead of Roland Garros, if both the seedings and Djokovic himself hold firm.
While the task ahead may appear daunting, Djokovic has already shown this year that he remains a formidable force. Back in January, he proved that even at this stage of his career, he is still capable of beating the very best on his day. If he can find his rhythm quickly in Rome, few would bet against him making yet another deep run at one of his favorite tournaments.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
