The Foro Italico shifts into high gear. On Friday, the Internazionali BNL d''Italia finally welcomes its headline acts, with Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Iga Swiatek all making their tournament debuts. Three names, three storylines, and a day that promises to be electric on the Roman clay.
Djokovic''s return is the main attraction. The 39-year-old Serb has not played since his round-of-16 loss at Indian Wells in early March, sidelined by a shoulder injury. Two months away, a reassuring practice session at the Foro Italico, and a confident press conference message: "I am ready enough to compete." His opponent, 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, took a set off Djokovic at the 2024 Australian Open and will relish another shot at the six-time Rome champion.
Zverev, the two-time defending Rome champion and Madrid finalist last week, opens against fellow German Daniel Altmaier. The world No.2, beaten by Jannik Sinner in the Madrid final, arrives with the consistency and frustration of a player who keeps running into an immovable force at the top of the rankings.
On the WTA side, Swiatek takes on Caty McNally on Campo Centrale. The three-time Rome champion has endured an uneven season and needs a strong result to build momentum heading into Roland-Garros. On the BNP Paribas Arena, Elena Rybakina, the 2023 Rome champion, faces Maria Sakkari in a second-round clash that could set the tone for the women''s draw.
After two days of upsets that claimed Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round, Rome enters its next phase. The question now: will the favorites deliver?
