Novak Djokovic begins his Atp Rome campaign against qualifier Dino Prizmic on Wednesday, opening what will be his first clay match of the season and his 19th Italian Open main draw appearance. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is using the tournament as part of his push toward the French Open, with Rome again handing him a stage he has often owned.
Djokovic has made Atp Rome his most successful clay-court tournament, and his entry has given this year's Masters field a lift, especially with Carlos Alcaraz absent. That alone changes the shape of the draw before a ball is struck. Djokovic is also the six-time champion whose record in Rome has long made him the standard others measure themselves against.
The opening round adds more than one storyline beyond Djokovic. Vit Kopriva arrives after winning many matches on clay this season and following a strong run in Madrid, while Alejandro Tabilo comes in off his Aix-en-Provence Challenger title in France and a first-round win over Pablo Carreno Busta. Francisco Cerundolo also sits among the players to watch on dirt, at least on his best days, when his clay-court level can make him dangerous early in a tournament.
There are also questions around players trying to reset after uneven springs. Rafael Jodar, 19, has been one of the best players on clay this season, a sharp contrast with Nuno Borges, who has struggled. Ugo Humbert has won only one match on clay this season, and that came against Moise Kouame, who was outside the top 300 at the time. Those numbers underline how quickly Rome can expose the difference between momentum and reputation.
Djokovic's presence at Atp Rome is the kind of fact that changes the event before a single set is played. The draw still has to settle itself, but the first match already tells the story: the most successful player in the field is beginning his clay season in the tournament that has suited him best, with Paris in sight and no Alcaraz to share the spotlight.
