As Jannik Sinner comes off yet another ATP Masters 1000 triumph going into his Rome homecoming, one of the two men to conquer the world No. 1 this season is set to return at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Six-time champion Novak Djokovic was among Monday’s draw highlights, landing in the same half as Alexander Zverev. The No. 3 seed missed last year’s edition at the Foro Italico, ending a streak of 18 consecutive main-draw appearances.
The 38-year-old most recently competed in March, when he was edged out in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open by Jack Draper. Djokovic cited a right shoulder injury for his subsequent Miami Open withdrawal, which began a string of three missed 1000-level tournaments.This week marks Djokovic’s latest start to the European clay-court season in his career outside of 2020’s shortened September-staged swing that was shifted back on the calendar as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A year ago, after bowing out in both of his Monte Carlo and Madrid openers, the Serbian captured his 100th tour-level title at Geneva ahead of a semifinal showing in Paris.
On four occasions, Djokovic’s annual surface debut has resulted in lifting the trophy.
Nole’s European Clay-Court Season Debut Event History
2026: Rome result TBD
2025: Monte Carlo (2R, l. to Tabilo)
2024: Monte Carlo (SF, l. to Ruud)
2023: Monte Carlo (3R, l. to Musetti)
2022: Monte Carlo (2R, l. to Davidovich Fokina)
2021: Monte Carlo (3R, l. to Evans)
2020: Rome (W, d. Schwartzman) – held in September
2019: Monte Carlo (QF, l. to Medvedev)
2018: Monte Carlo (3R, l. to Thiem)
2017: Monte Carlo (QF, l. to Goffin)
2016: Monte Carlo (2R, l. to Vesely)
2015: Monte Carlo (W, d. Berdych)
2014: Monte Carlo (SF, l. to Federer)
2013: Monte Carlo (W, d. Nadal)
2012: Monte Carlo (F, l. to Nadal)
2011: Belgrade (W, d. Lopez)
2010: Monte Carlo (SF, l. to Verdasco)
2009: Monte Carlo (F, l. to Nadal)
2008: Monte Carlo (SF, l. to Federer)
2007: Monte Carlo (3R, l. to Ferrer)
2006: Monte Carlo (1R, l. to Federer)
2005: Valencia (1R, l. to Dupuis)