Rome
Djokovic returns in Rome: Six-time champ hits practice courts ahead of comeback
Serbian will compete for first time since March after injury
May 05, 2026
Internazionali BNL d’Italia
Novak Djokovic practises with Ignacio Buse on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
By ATP Staff
Novak Djokovic is ready to get back to business at the 2026 Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The record 40-time ATP Masters 1000 champion is in Rome preparing for his return to action after missing more than six weeks due to injury. Djokovic, whose last match was against Jack Draper in Indian Wells on 12 March, practised with Peruvian Ignacio Buse on Monday at the Foro Italico.
Prior to his physical struggles, Djokovic had made an impressive start to the 2026 season. The 38-year-old reached his first major final since 2024 at January’s Australian Open, while his Indian Wells run was only ended by Draper in a fourth-round deciding-set tie-break.
Now, the former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will aim to make an immediate impact when he returns on the Rome clay, where he is a six-time champion. Djokovic holds a 68-12 record in the ‘Eternal City’, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, a tally that includes his title runs from 2008, 2011, 2014-15, 2020 and 2022. Djokovic has twice defeated Rafael Nadal, who is a record 10-time Rome champion, in the championship match at the Foro Italico.
You May Also Like: Nadal, Djokovic headline No. 1 Club Masters 1000 clay titans
Home favourite Jannik Sinner — who is chasing his record-extending sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title and would complete the Career Golden Masters by winning the Internazionali BNL d’Italia — may be the man to beat this year in Rome, but it was Djokovic who triumphed in the pair’s only Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting so far this year, in the Australian Open semi-finals. Sinner and Djokovic are in separate halves of the Rome draw: Djokovic is seeded to meet World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, with Sinner a potential final opponent.
Djokovic, who is competing in Rome for the first time since his third-round exit to Alejandro Tabilo in 2024, will first focus on his opening match against Marton Fucsovics or qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Foro Italico. The 101-time tour-level titlist is also seeded to face home favourite and eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.
Novak Djokovic” style=”width: 100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2026/05/05/16/17/djokovic-rome-2026-practice-fans.jpg”>
Novak Djokovic greets fans on Monday at the Foro Italico. Photo Credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia