Practicing in Rome: Djokovic and Sinner (vid)

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ROME – Reigning champion Novak Djokovic, after missing Madrid, is in Rome and bringing his 64-10 record – and six titles – to the task of defending his title.

He’s made more than $6 million in Rome alone. Which is a prize-money total that most players would happily take for their entire career.

And he speaks Italian, which will always endear him to the locals.

The 35-year-old (his birthday is in less than two weeks) was out on somewhat of a remote court Tuesday playing a practice match against the favorite Italian in the place, Jannik Sinner.

The small area of stands on the other side of an adjacent court was full; the standing crowd up top was maybe one or two deep.

You’d expect more, certainly, with that marquee matchup.

But right next door, young Italian Flavio Cobelli was in the fight of his life against American Emilio Nava – a battle he ultimately won to qualify for his first Italian Open before family and a ton of friends.

It was absolute chaos over there.

Here’s what it looked like. Djokovic stretched out his shoulder and neck a few times. But it looked like little more than a nearly-36-year-old champion stretching out the kinks a little bit.