Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur could be on a collision course with World No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Italian Open, with both players landing on the same side of the draw. A semi-final clash between the two is possible—setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter in Rome.
Sinner is making his return to competition after serving a three-month suspension for inadvertently ingesting a banned substance. The four-time Grand Slam winner received a warm welcome from fans during a packed practice session over the weekend, drawing nearly 5,000 spectators.
As the top seed, Sinner has a first-round bye and will play the winner of Mariano Navone vs. Federico Cina in the second round. Meanwhile, de Minaur, who has climbed to a career-high World No.8, is coming in with solid form after deep runs in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid.
Despite his momentum, de Minaur has yet to beat Sinner in 10 meetings, winning just one set against him—back in 2020. Their most recent encounter saw Sinner dominate in straight sets at the Australian Open in January.
Adding intrigue to his comeback, Sinner took time during a press conference to address recent rumors linking him romantically to Russian model Lara Leito.
“I was surprised to see some pictures. It’s nothing serious—I’m not in a relationship,” he said. Sinner previously dated Russian tennis player Anna Kalinskaya, but the two reportedly split in 2024.
Discussing his time away from the court, the 23-year-old admitted the suspension period had been mentally taxing.
“Last year was very difficult. I held everything inside. I needed a break, and while it was three months, it was useful. I still need matches to really gauge my level again,” Sinner said. “After my first match, I’ll have a clearer picture of where I stand.”
Sinner’s return and potential showdown with de Minaur is one of the most anticipated storylines of the Italian Open, especially with questions lingering about his sharpness and readiness after months away from competition.
