Alexander Blockx has emerged as a compelling presence on tour this spring. The 21-year-old from Belgium reached the semifinals in Madrid last week and now sits at No. 36 in the rankings. That rise has not been enough to earn a seed in Rome, though he should make the cut at the Slams. In Rome he faces a different sort of challenge: a younger opponent. Cina, a 19-year-old from Palermo who reached as high as No. 4 in the juniors, will have local support. As a pro, however, Cina has not been ranked higher than No. 183. Blockx’s profile fits the modern top-level ATP player: a 6’4 frame, a strong serve, a heavy topspin forehand and a two-handed backhand. Winner: Blockx

Karolina Pliskova’s return to the later rounds of a WTA 1000 event was unexpected at the start of the year. The 34-year-old finished 2025 ranked outside the Top 1000 and had not advanced past the second round at a major since 2023. Last week in Madrid she looked more like the player who once held No. 1 in the world, making the quarters and coming within a set of the semifinals. Now at No. 130, Pliskova has momentum and tournament history on her side: she won this event in 2019 and reached the final in 2020 and 2021. She opens against Bouzas Maneiro, a fiery 23-year-old from Spain ranked 50th. They have never played each other. Winner: Pliskova

Dino Prizmic is another name that surfaced during Madrid. The 20-year-old from Croatia, listed at 6’2, plays with noticeable grit and physicality. He recorded eye-opening wins over Matteo Berrettini and Ben Shelton last week in Madrid, moves to a career-high No. 79 and is now a player to watch as the clay season progresses. His rise this spring has been rapid and memorable.

The quick move from Madrid to Rome represents more than a change of venue. The two Masters-level events arrive within 24 hours of one another, and the Foro Italico presents a very different atmosphere from the Caja Magica. The surface carries the same name, but fans, arenas, altitude and weather make Rome its own test.

Jannik Sinner enters as the top seed, coming off an extraordinary run in 2026. After missing four Masters 1000s in 2025 — Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid — he has won all of those events so far in 2026 while dropping just two sets. That sequence leaves him with a scheduling dilemma: rest before Roland Garros or play his national event and risk added wear. Rest would mean three weeks without a match before Paris; playing preserves match rhythm. He has chosen to play and is scheduled to meet Arthur Fils in the round of 16.

Sinner’s potential path to the title: 2R: Michelsen | 3R: Mensik | 4R: Fils | QF: Shelton | SF: Medvedev | F: Zverev

The WTA field arrives on the heels of an unsettled Madrid. For the first three months of 2026 the rankings held, but the last two weeks produced surprise results. Aryna Sabalenka was the only one of the top group to reach the quarters in Madrid. Marta Kostyuk won her first 1000 title, Mirra Andreeva reached the final and Hailey Baptiste beat Paolini, Bencic and Sabalenka. That raises the question: will Rome restore order or continue the upheaval? Last year Jasmine Paolini produced a home-court Cinderella run to the title, but Sabalenka, Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff have recent history of deep runs in Rome.

Sabalenka: 2R: Krejcikova | 3R: Cirstea | 4R: Noskova | QF: Anisimova | SF: Gauff
Gauff: 2R: Putintseva or Valentova | 3R: Raducanu | 4R: Jovic | QF: Andreeva | SF: Sabalenka
Swiatek: 2R: Kasatkina or McNally | 3R: Navarro | 4R: Osaka | QF: Pegula or Muchova | SF: Rybakina
Rybakina: 2R: Sakkari | 3R: Wang Xinyu | 4R: Kostyuk | QF: Svitolina | SF: Swiatek

Novak Djokovic’s presence is notable. He has played just two tournaments this year, the Australian Open and Indian Wells, and after his long goodbye at Roland Garros last year some expected him to skip the clay swing. He is seeded third, a six-time Rome champion with a career record at the Foro Italico of 68-12, and he has never lost in the opening round. He has not played a match on clay in 11 months and is about to turn 39, but he landed in a manageable section of the draw.

Djokovic’s path to the final: 2R: Fucsovics | 3R: Humbert | 4R: Khachanov | QF: Musetti | SF: Zverev

Jannik Sinner produced a dominant display in Madrid, defeating Alexander Zverev in just 58 minutes to secure a record fifth consecutive ATP Masters title. The streak began last October and covers every 1000-level event Sinner has entered: Paris (indoors), Indian Wells (hard), Miami (hard), Monte Carlo (clay) and Madrid (clay). He did not play any of those tournaments in 2025 because of suspension. Call it, as Jim Courier said during the blink-and-you-missed-it final, Jannik’s “revenge tour.”

Analysts Brad Gilbert and Nick Monroe unpacked the quick final and Sinner’s run. Back in January on The Big T, Gilbert made a bold prediction:

I foresee Sinner having a monster season. I don’t think he’ll lose more than five times in ’26. Brad Gilbert, on The Big T

Monroe revisits that prophecy this week. (6:45) If Gilbert’s forecast holds, Sinner would be in rare company alongside John McEnroe, Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova for single-season excellence. BG explains on the pod.

On the women’s side, Marta Kostyuk produced a major upset, defeating Mirra Andreeva to claim her first WTA 1000 title in Madrid. Her tournament run included an unforgettable backflip celebration that drew wide attention. BG and Monroe also dissect Marta Kostyuk’s unexpected Madrid title run and unforgettable backflip celebration. (15:00) The judges gave her all-around performance a 10.

The coverage also includes exclusive voice notes from Kostyuk’s coach Sandra Zaniewska that shed light on Marta’s methodical progress and rise. Observers are left wondering whether this breakthrough could carry into Rome and Roland Garros.

A Drop Shot episode of The Big T covering these matches is available on streaming platforms, with specific segments and bonus content offered for listeners. New episodes drop every Wednesday; follow on your platform for instant notifications.