2026 Italian Open Men’s Draw: Preview and Prediction Featuring Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Arthur Fils

Now that the Madrid Open is done and dusted, the tennis world will shift its focus toward the last Masters 1000 of the season on clay, the Italian Open. Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, will not be playing.

He defeated Jannik Sinner last year. Alcaraz suffered a wrist injury during the Barcelona Open, due to which he skipped the Madrid Open for the second consecutive time and will also not be playing at Roland Garros, where he’s the two-time reigning champion.

Tournament Details

• Tournament: 2026 Italian Open
• Defending Champion: Carlos Alcaraz
• Date: May 6 – May 17
• No. of Entrants: 96 (Singles)
• Venue: Foro Italico
• Surface: Outdoor clay court
• Total Prize Money Pool: $9,652,876

Top seeds at the 2026 Italian Open

• Jannik Sinner
• Alexander Zverev
• Novak Djokovic
• Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Ben Shelton
• Alex de Minaur
• Daniil Medvedev
• Lorenzo Musetti
• Alexander Bublik
• Flavio Cobolli

First quarter

Jannik Sinner will headline this quarter. He will be chasing his fifth consecutive Masters 1000 titles of the season. In the third round, he could meet Jakub Mensik, who defeated him in the quarterfinals of this year’s Doha event.

Arthur Fils, who lost to Sinner in the Madrid semifinal, could face the World No.1 in the fourth round in Rome. Ben Shelton, Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Brandon Nakashima are the other seeded players in this quarter.

Quarterfinal prediction: Jannik Sinner vs. Ben Shelton

Second quarter

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev could face each other in the quarterfinals. But before that, the Canadian ace could meet Joao Fonseca in the third round.

Valentin Vacherot, the reigning Shanghai champion, is also a part of this quarter. The Monegasque made the semifinals of this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters. Flavio Cobolli, Cameron Norrie, and Corentin Moutet are also the favorites to reach the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinal prediction: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Flavio Cobolli

Third quarter

Novak Djokovic is the favorite to reach the quarterfinal. The Serb will be seen in action for the first time since the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters.

He is projected to meet Lorenzo Musetti in the last eight. Jiri Lehecka, who finished as the runner-up in Miami this year, could meet Casper Ruud in the third round. Karen Khachanov and Arthur Rinderknech are also a part of this quarter.

Quarterfinal prediction: Novak Djokovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti

Fourth quarter

Alexander Zverev will headline this quarter. Sascha finished as the runner-up in Madrid.

This draw also has Tommy Paul, Alexander Bublik, Luciano Darderi, and Learner Tien. Sixth seed Alex de Minaur could set up his third-round match against Rafael Jodar, who reached the Madrid quarterfinal and lost to Sinner.

Quarterfinal prediction: Alexander Zverev vs. Rafael Jodar

Semifinals

Sinner is the favorite to reach the final. Also against Shelton, he holds a 9-1 head-to-head lead. Cobolli, the winner of three titles, lifted two trophies on clay and also lost the Munich Open to Shelton.

Djokovic holds a 10-1 head-to-head lead over the Italian ace. Although Jodar has been impressing the tennis world after making his tour-level debut this year, he is expected to lose if he meets an experienced Zverev.

Semifinal prediction:

• Jannik Sinner vs. Flavio Cobolli
• Alexander Zverev vs. Novak Djokovic

Final

It was Djokovic who defeated Sinner in the semifinals of this year’s Australian Open, snapping his five-match losing streak. But it’s Sinner who is in red-hot form, having completed the Sunshine Double, and won at the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open.

Sinner will be bidding to become the first man to win six consecutive Masters 1000 titles. He has already become the first man to win the first five consecutive Masters 1000s of the season.

• Final prediction: Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic
• Winner prediction: Jannik Sinner

Also read: Iga Swiatek Told She Has ‘Officially Hit Panic Button’ with Her Form