The third and final ATP Masters 1000 event of the clay season begins this week at the Italian Open, as players look to fine-tune their games ahead of Roland Garros.
World number one Jannik Sinner will be the overwhelming favourite to go all the way in Rome, with the Italian in unstoppable form currently.
Can anyone stop Jannik Sinner at the Italian Open?
If so, who?
Sinner made history at the Madrid Open on Sunday by becoming the first man ever to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles.
He handed Alexander Zverev a heavy defeat in the final to emerge victorious in the Spanish capital, beating the German 6-1, 6-2.
Zverev has not won a Masters title since Paris 2024, and his chances of ending the drought at the Italian Open have just decreased following the draw.
Alexander Zverev’s draw at the 2026 Italian Open
Zverev will have a comfortable round two assignment, with the world number three due to face either Zhang Zhizhen or Daniel Altmaier after his bye in round one.
It quickly gets difficult for Zverev, however, as it is likely he will face 21-year-old Alexander Blockx in round three fresh off his run to the Madrid Open semifinals.
Blockx announced himself to the tennis world in Madrid by beating the likes of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud en route to the final four, where he ultimately fell to Zverev.
Can any of these four players stop Jannik Sinner winning the French Open this year?
Is there anyone else you think could be a threat to Sinner?
Also in Zverev’s quarter of the draw is another up-and-coming star, Rafael Jodar, who, like Blockx, has taken the tennis world by storm recently.
Jodar reached the semifinals of the Barcelona Open, and made the quarterfinals in Madrid, where he almost took a set off eventual champion Sinner.
Other big names in Zverev’s quarter of the draw include Tommy Paul, Alexander Bublik, Learner Tien and Alex de Minaur.
Alexander Zverev’s record at the Italian Open over the years
Zverev is a two-time champion at the Italian Open, having won the tournament in both 2017 and 2024.
In 2017, Zverev dropped just two sets en route to the final, where he went on to beat Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3.
He made the final the year after, but did not return to the championship match until 2024, where he enjoyed a fairly easy path to the crown.
Last year, Zverev was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open by eighth seed and home hope Lorenzo Musetti.
Zverev has made at least the semifinals at every ATP Masters 1000 event since the 2025 Paris Masters.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
