Rome Open 2026: Sinner aims for a historic record and Medvedev faces a tough challenge.

The Rome Open 2026 entered a dramatic second round, with Jannik Sinner's dominance and the return of defending champion Daniil Medvedev at the center of the action. The tournament in Italy is not only an important warm-up for Roland-Garros but also a place where Sinner is striving to complete his impressive collection of Masters 1000 titles.

Daniil Medvedev and the Tomas Machac obstacle

The match between Daniil Medvedev and Tomas Machac (scheduled for 4 PM on May 9th) is a clash between top-level experience and rising youth. Machac recently caused an upset by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round with a tenacious baseline game. However, the Czech player still shows a weakness in his first serve percentage, which is only 61%, a statistic that could cost him dearly against Medvedev's top-class return game.

Medvedev, the 2023 Rome Open champion, may not possess optimal speed on clay, but his ability to control the tempo and his steely mentality are the weapons that have helped him win all his previous encounters with Machac. Experts predict that Medvedev will need three sets to overcome the resistance of the 21-year-old player.

Joao Fonseca: The new star from Brazil

At 8:30 PM, Joao Fonseca will face Hamad Medjedovic. Fonseca is becoming a sensation this clay court season after impressive performances in Monte-Carlo and Munich. With his powerful forehand and agile movement, Fonseca is considered slightly superior to his Serbian opponent, who often struggles against fast players.

Although Medjedovic has the advantage of stamina in long rallies, Fonseca's experience in Masters 1000 tournaments could be the deciding factor in the match, with a predicted 2-0 victory for the Brazilian player.

Jannik Sinner and his journey to conquer a historical milestone.

The spotlight of the day is on Jannik Sinner. The world number one has the opportunity to become only the second player in history, after Novak Djokovic, to win all nine Masters 1000 titles if he triumphs in Rome. Sinner currently boasts a streak of 28 consecutive wins at Masters tournaments, a phenomenal performance demonstrating absolute consistency.

His opponent, Sebastian Ofner, despite his easy victory over Alex Michelsen, is unlikely to spring a surprise against the suffocating pressure Sinner usually creates from the start of the match. It's highly probable Sinner will settle the match quickly in two sets to advance to the next round.

Notable matches on May 9th and the early morning of May 10th.