All eyes are on Novak Djokovic as he prepares for his season debut on clay at the Italian Open in Rome. After a brief hiatus from competition, the tennis legend is ready to reassert his dominance on the red dirt.

Djokovic, now 38, has played sparingly in 2026, with just two tournaments under his belt. He reached the final at the Australian Open, falling to Carlos Alcaraz, and exited Indian Wells in the round of 16 at the hands of Jack Draper. Now, he turns his focus to clay, a surface where he has historically thrived.

Fans have reason for optimism after Djokovic completed a sharp practice session with Tomas Etcheverry. His movement looked crisp, and he demonstrated excellent court coverage. But what truly caught the eye was his frequent use of the drop shot—a weapon that left Etcheverry scrambling and, at times, applauding in disbelief.

The draw in Rome presents a favorable path for Djokovic. With Alcaraz sidelined due to a wrist injury and Jannik Sinner placed on the opposite side of the bracket—meaning they could only meet in the final—the stars seem aligned for a deep run.

Beyond Rome, Djokovic has his sights set on the French Open, where he will chase a historic 25th Grand Slam title. But he's been warned about the threat Sinner poses on clay. Their only previous meeting on the surface came at the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters, where Sinner prevailed in a three-set semifinal before falling to Casper Ruud in the final. Patrick Mouratoglou, a former coach of Serena Williams, has noted that Sinner's game is especially dangerous on clay, adding intrigue to a potential showdown in Paris.

For now, though, all attention is on Rome. Djokovic's first clay match of the season is one fans simply cannot miss.