Player withdrawals and early exits have heavily hit the 2026 Italian Open. Over 22 players had to withdraw or retire across both the ATP and WTA draws, and just a few days ago, Novak Djokovic, who returned after a two-month-long injury, also had an unexpected early exit. While fans and analysts hit the panic button, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner is not worried, as he believes that this string of upsets is simply part of the sport.
Jannik Sinner Blames ‘Tricky’ Rome Conditions Following Novak Djokovic Upset
After his straight-sets victory against Alexei Popyrin in the Round of 32, Sinner offered his thoughts on the same. He pointed directly to the brutal scheduling turnaround and the unpredictable weather in Rome as key factors behind this top-tier collapse.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s tough to say. I feel like in Grand Slams you have more tension. Only four tournaments a year,” Sinner said. “Of course, here the situation is very different. You come from Madrid where it’s very, very fast, then you come here and there are tricky conditions. Today was a lot of wind again. It’s not easy to play really, really good tennis.”
“At the same time, it’s also normal. Some players struggle a little bit more at times. This is how it is in tennis. You cannot be always on top,” Sinner added. “Yeah, there are always going to be upsets in every tournament at the moment. It is what it is.”
After a two-month hiatus due to a right shoulder injury, it was in Rome that Djokovic decided to come back. But the 24-time Grand Slam champ lost to 20-year-old Croatian qualifier Dino Prižmić after an uncharacteristically flat performance and struggled to find consistency on the Roman clay.
The Serb was seen taping on his right shoulder when changing shirts between sets. But he chose not to address his physical condition and kept the focus on Prižmić’s achievement.
Besides Djokovic, top seed and WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka was knocked out in the third round by Sorana Cîrstea (2-6, 6-3, 7-5). Sabalenka did not look in her best physical condition during the match, as exhaustion took a toll. Félix Auger-Aliassime (ATP #4) lost his opening match in the second round. Ben Shelton (ATP #6) was eliminated in the second round, and Alex de Minaur (ATP #8) also fell at the first hurdle in the second round. Jasmine Paolini (WTA #9), the defending champion, was knocked out in the third round with a loss to Elise Mertens.
Meanwhile, players including Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz, and Jack Draper were forced to pull out due to lingering injuries. The tour’s physically demanding transition was the primary culprit for their bodies breaking down.
While many of his opponents are out, the home favorite is faring exceptionally well during this clay-court swing, looking practically invincible. This year, he already has the Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid, and winning Rome won’t be a surprise. Next up, Sinner will face compatriot Andrea Pellegrino as the draw moves through the Round of 16.
For Djokovic, however, the early exit in Rome raises significant questions as the tour moves on to Paris. Roland Garros is just around the corner, and the veteran will need to focus on his health to come back to his usual prominence.
