Carlos Alcaraz is set to make his return at the Rome Masters after missing the Madrid Open due to an adductor injury. The Spanish star will begin his campaign on Friday, April 9, against Dusan Lajovic. During a pre-tournament press conference, Alcaraz expressed his hopes of facing Jannik Sinner in the final, setting the stage for a potential high-stakes matchup.
The Rome Masters marks a special occasion with Sinner’s return to the tour after serving a three-month suspension from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following a positive doping test in 2024. Alcaraz didn’t hold back his excitement about a potential showdown with the Italian.
“We are in different sides of the draw. Hopefully, I’m going to meet him (Sinner) at the final,” Alcaraz said during the press conference, per ATP Tour. “I’m really happy to see him, his team around. I think I’m going to enjoy watching him play again, his matches. For the people, I think [it] is great”.
Alcaraz and Sinner have faced off 10 times, with the Spaniard leading their head-to-head series 6-4. Alcaraz also holds the momentum, having won their last three encounters, including the China Open final. Their rivalry has consistently delivered thrilling matches, and a clash in the Rome Masters final would be no exception.
Alcaraz about Sinner’s return
Despite being direct competitors for the ATP World No. 1 ranking, Alcaraz expressed genuine happiness about Sinner’s return and acknowledged the significance of the Italian making his comeback in front of a home crowd.
“It is great. I’m really happy to have him around again,” Alcaraz admitted. “It’s been three months. Obviously for him [it] was tough, and I’m pretty sure [it] was super long. I think [there isn’t] a better place to come back than here in his home, in Rome”.
Alcaraz and Sinner’s paths to the final
Alcaraz and Sinner find themselves on opposite sides of the Rome Masters draw, meaning a potential meeting could only happen in the final. However, both players face challenging paths to get there.
Alcaraz begins his tournament against Dusan Lajovic. If results go as expected, he could face rising star Jack Draper in the quarterfinals, who recently broke into the top 5 of the ATP rankings for the first time. A semifinal showdown with World No. 2 Alexander Zverev could follow before a potential final against Sinner.
On Sinner’s side, he will open his campaign a day after Alcaraz against Mariano Navone. A potential fourth-round matchup against Francisco Cerundolo—who leads the tour in clay-court victories in 2025—awaits. Sinner could also face Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and Taylor Fritz in the semifinals before a potential clash with Alcaraz in the final.
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Who do you think will go further at the Rome Open?
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