Jannik Sinner will be back in action in front of the home crowd at the Rome Masters on Monday when he faces lucky loser Jesper de Jong. Jakub Mensik and Fabian Marozsan are also on the third-round schedule.

(1) Jannik Sinner vs. (LL) Jesper de Jong

Sinner and De Jong will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers when they clash in round three of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Monday. They previously squared off at the 2024 Australian Open, where Sinner rolled 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round en route to his first Grand Slam title.

The top-ranked Italian, now a two-time major champion, returned from his three-month suspension with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Mariano Navone on Saturday night in Rome. It should not have been any real surprise to see Sinner back at pretty much his very best right away. That means De Jong’s luck has probably run out, although the 93-ranked Dutchman made the most of his lucky-loser spot in the main draw by beating Alexander Shevchenko and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Prior to this event De Jong had never defeated anyone ranked better than 34th in the world–so it’s obviously hard to see him taking down Sinner.

Pick: Sinner in 2

(20) Jakub Mensik vs. Fabian Marozsan

Masters 1000s have always been Marozsan’s most successful level on tour and clay is by far his best surface, so Rome is a perfect setting for him. It’s no surprise that his breakthrough on tour came at this tournament in 2023, when he stunned Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the fourth round. The 25-year-old currently registers at No. 61 in the world and will certain climb higher following wins this fortnight over Joao Fonseca and Andrey Rublev. Marozsan’s 7-3 clay-court record in 2025 also includes a semifinal showing in Munich.

Up next for the Hungarian is a first-ever meeting with Mensik–no stranger to Masters 1000 success, himself. The 19-year-old Czech has reached at least the quarterfinals at three of his last five such tournaments, including a title in Miami. Although Mensik is an all-court player, he is a relative clay-court novice compared to Marozsan and was not overly convincing in a 7-6(4) 7-5 defeat of Matteo Gigante on Saturday. The world No. 21 wields more firepower, but on a slower surface it is Marozsan’s superior variety and drop-shot guile that could rule the day.

Pick: Marozsan in 3