World number one and four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner has officially begun his preparations for the Rome Masters. The Italian tennis star was seen on the practice courts yesterday, May 7th, engaging in his first training session ahead of the prestigious tournament on home soil.
The practice session attracted significant attention, with a large number of enthusiastic fans gathering to watch the hometown favorite in action. Sinner, who is the top seed at the event, is looking to make a deep run at the Foro Italico.
Sinner's tournament will commence in the second round, where he is scheduled to face Austrian player Sebastian Ofner. This match is planned for May 9th, giving the top seed a day of rest after his opening practice.
The Italian will be aiming to improve on his result from last year's edition of the tournament. In the 2024 final, Sinner was defeated by Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets, losing 6:7 (5:7), 1:6.
A notable absence from this year's draw is that very same rival, Carlos Alcaraz. The Spanish star is not participating in the Rome Masters due to a hand injury. This injury has also forced Alcaraz to withdraw from other major clay-court events, including the Madrid Masters and the 2026 Roland Garros tournament.
With Alcaraz sidelined, the path to the title may look different for Sinner, but the competition remains fierce as the world's best players converge on the Italian capital for one of the key warm-up events for the French Open.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.