Jannik Sinner’s 2026 clay-court form has reminded many of Rafael Nadal.
The Italian hasn’t lost a match on clay this year, winning in Monte Carlo and Madrid, before winning his first two matches at the Italian Open.
If he remains unbeaten through Rome and Roland Garros, he will emulate Nadal, who did the same in 2006 and 2010.
Who will win the 2026 Italian Open?
A stacked field in Rome!
However, while the results are similar, the way they achieve them is not…
John Isner says the ‘return’ is the biggest difference between Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal on clay
During the latest episode of ‘Nothing Major‘, former Wimbledon semi-finalist John Isner highlighted the big difference between Sinner and Nadal on clay.
“Even if you have a big serve. On clay, big servers can be tough to play against, but [Jannik] Sinner, and I’m not comparing him to Rafa [Nadal], but the difference between them is that Rafa would go way back and he was looping that return, he is not necessarily nuking that return from 15 feet behind the baseline,” said Isner.
“Sinner nukes it from 15 feet behind the baseline off of a first serve.
“He is way back, and you can serve and volley and think that I am going to take his time away and shorten the court, but he can hit a winner from 15 feet behind the baseline off of a first serve if you serve and volley.
“His penetration that he gets from way back is something that I don’t think we have seen anyone ever have that much on the return from so far back behind the baseline.”
Clay-court return rating (Last 52 weeks)
| Rank | Name | Return Rating | % 1st Serve return points won | % 2nd Serve return points won | % Return games won | % Break points converted |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 176.9 | 38.5% (1st on ATP Tour) | 54.8% (5th on ATP Tour) | 37.1% (1st on ATP Tour) | 46.5% (7th on ATP Tour) |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | 176.0 | 38.3% | 54.4% | 36.9% | 46.4% |
| 3 | Mariano Navone | 174.7 | 38.0% | 53.9% | 36.3% | 46.5% |
| 4 | Rafael Jodar | 171.0 | 37.5% | 52.7% | 35.8% | 45.0% |
| 5 | Roman Andres Burruchaga | 170.0 | 36.6% | 53.0% | 33.3% | 47.1% |
| 6 | Francisco Cerundolo | 169.0 | 36.5% | 55.1% | 35.8% | 41.6% |
| 7 | Alexander Zverev | 168.2 | 35.1% | 52.9% | 32.2% | 48.0% |
| 8 | Flavio Cobolli | 164.8 | 34.3% | 55.0% | 32.0% | 43.5% |
| 9 | Pedro Martinez | 162.7 | 30.7% | 52.7% | 27.1% | 52.2% |
| 10 | Tommy Paul | 161.7 | 33.4% | 49.8% | 28.9% | 49.6% |
Nobody has returned better than Sinner on clay over the past year.
With that in mind, perhaps it’s no surprise the Italian has yet to lose a match on the surface in 2026!
Jannik Sinner’s 2026 clay-court record (13-0)
- 1. Monte Carlo Masters 2R [WIN] vs Ugo Humbert
- 2. Monte Carlo Masters 3R [WIN] vs Tomas Machac
- 3. Monte Carlo Masters QF [WIN] vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
- 4. Monte Carlo Masters SF [WIN] vs Alexander Zverev
- 5. Monte Carlo Masters F [WIN] vs Carlos Alcaraz
- 6. Madrid Open 2R [WIN] vs Benjamin Bonzi
- 7. Madrid Open 3R [WIN] vs Elmer Moller
- 8. Madrid Open 4R [WIN] vs Cameron Norrie
- 9. Madrid Open QF [WIN] vs Rafael Jodar
- 10. Madrid Open SF [WIN] vs Arthur Fils
- 11. Madrid Open F [WIN] vs Alexander Zverev
- 12. Italian Open 2R [WIN] vs Sebastian Ofner
- 13. Italian Open 3R [WIN] vs Alexei Popyrin
The question is, can he maintain that unbeaten record?
Who will Jannik Sinner play next in Rome?
Next up for Sinner is an all-Italian clash with the world number 155, Andrea Pellegrino.
Pellegrino won the qualifying tournament to reach the main draw, where he has beaten Luca Nardi, Arthur Fils, and Frances Tiafoe.
Sinner will walk on court as a heavy favourite, having last lost to a fellow Italian 2,087 days ago.
- 2020 Cincinnati Open Q1 [LOSS] vs Salvatore Caruso
Should he advance to the quarter-finals as expected, Sinner would meet either Andrey Rublev or Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Rublev is a two-time Masters 1000 champion on clay, while Basilashvili reached one final at this level in Indian Wells.
Sinner would be favoured in either match-up, although it’s worth remembering Rublev remains one of the most recent players to beat the world number one at a Masters 1000 event.
Jannik Sinner’s last five Masters 1000 defeats
- 2025 Shanghai Masters – Lost in 3R to Tallon Griekspoor, 7-6, 5-7, 2-3 (RET)
- 2025 Cincinnati Open – Lost in F to Carlos Alcaraz, 0-5 (RET)
- 2025 Italian Open – Lost in F to Carlos Alcaraz, 6-7, 1-6
- 2024 Canadian Open – Lost in QF to Andrey Rublev, 3-6, 6-1, 2-6
- 2024 Monte Carlo Masters – Lost in SF to Stefanos Tsitsipas, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6
Only time will tell if Rublev can repeat the feat in Rome.
First, Sinner will take on Pellegrino in the fourth round on Tuesday, May 12.
