Scouting Report
Scouting Report: Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev chase clay-court success in Monte-Carlo
An government abstract of what each fan ought to know in regards to the ATP Masters 1000 occasion
April 04, 2026
ATP Tour
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev headline Monte-Carlo.
By Sam Jacot
The first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 occasion of the season begins on Sunday on the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, the place Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner headline the sphere.
Alcaraz is the defending champion however will look to bounce again from a disappointing early Miami exit when he meets Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez in his opener in the Principality. Sinner arrives contemporary off titles in Indian Wells and Miami and may return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings this week.
ATPTour.com appears to be like at 10 issues to look at throughout the season’s third Masters 1000 match.
1) Alcaraz defending champion: Alcaraz had by no means gained a match in Monte-Carlo previous to final 12 months however battled by the sphere to seize the crown. The 22-year-old Spaniard is chasing his third title of the 12 months after completing the Career Grand Slam on the Australian Open and successful in Doha, however he might be eager to bounce again from a third-round exit final trip to Sebastian Korda in Miami. The World No. 1 has been training with countryman Martin Landaluce in the lead-up to Monte-Carlo.
2) Sinner eyes No. 1: Sinner can return to No. 1 in Monte-Carlo. He must a minimum of attain the semi-finals, whereas a run to his first title in the Principality will assure high spot. Read more about the battle between the Italian and Alcaraz here. Overall, Sinner is chasing his fourth consecutive Masters 1000 crown, having not dropped units en path to titles in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami. The 24-year-old has by no means triumphed at this degree on clay.
3) Is Zverev constructing? Alexander Zverev loved runs to the semi-finals in Indian Wells and Miami however was stopped by Sinner on each events final month. The German is chashing his eighth Masters 1000 title and fourth on clay, having gained in Rome in 2017 and Madrid in 2018 and 2021. His greatest outcomes in the Principality are semi-final showings in 2018 and 2022.
4) Musetti & Tsitsipas have fond reminiscences: Lorenzo Musetti reached his first Masters 1000 closing in Monte-Carlo final 12 months, a consequence which set the foundations for a European clay swing that additionally featured semi-final showings at Roland Garros and in Madrid and Rome. Tsitsipas is a three-time champion in Monte-Carlo however has not been near his greatest not too long ago and is at present No. 49 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Can Monte-Carlo present the setting for a revival?
5) Kouame receives wild card: The 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame will make his debut after receiving a wild card. Kouame earned his first Masters 1000 win in Miami and can open in opposition to Ugo Humbert in Monte-Carlo. The #NextGenATP star would play Sinner in the second spherical if he can advance in his opener.
Watch the video to study extra about Kouame
Read extra from Monte-Carlo
Sinner & Alcaraz’s Monte-Carlo draw: Which intriguing opponents could they face in R2?
How Sinner can become World No. 1 in Monte-Carlo
2026 Monte-Carlo tennis prize money
6) Fonseca set for debut: Joao Fonseca has tasted success on clay in the previous, lifting the trophy on the ATP 250 occasion in Buenos Aires in 2025. The 19-year-old Brazilian is now making his Monte-Carlo debut and can open in opposition to Gabriel Diallo. Last month, he confronted Sinner in Indian Wells and Alcaraz in Miami, pushing the Top 2 gamers earlier than shedding.
7) Wawrinka & Monfils to make closing bows: Stan Wawrinka, 41, and Gael Monfils, 39, are each set to complete their enjoying careers on the finish of 2026. Wawrinka clinched the crown in Monte-Carlo in 2014, whereas Monfils made the ultimate in 2016. Both will compete for the ultimate time on the occasion after receiving wild playing cards. Monfils begins in opposition to Tallon Griekspoor and Wawrinka will play Baez.
8) Vacherot leads Monegasque hopes: Valentin Vacherot shot to the limelight final 12 months in Shanghai, when he grew to become the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in historical past (since 1990). Now the Monegasque star will hope to duplicate that on house soil, beginning in opposition to Kamil Majchrzak. The 27-year-old, who reached the second spherical in Monte-Carlo final 12 months, is in good type after advancing to the fourth spherical in Miami.
9) Can De Minaur, Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev or Ruud triumph? Seeds Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud might be looking for the successful formulation in Monte-Carlo. De Minaur reached the semi-finals final 12 months, whereas Auger-Aliassime has by no means been previous the second spherical. Medvedev and Ruud have each gained clay-court ATP Masters 1000 titles, triumphing in Rome (2023) and Madrid (2025), respectively.
10) Sinner headlines doubles subject: In a star-studded subject, Sinner headlines the draw. The 24-year-old will be a part of forces with Belgian Zizou Bergs. It would be the second time this 12 months Sinner has competed in doubles, after struggling a first-round loss in Indian Wells with Reilly Opelka.
Zverev gained the title alongside Marcelo Melo in Acapulco in March and can crew with the Brazilian in the Principality. De Minaur will play with Cameron Norrie, with Czechs Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik pairing. Lehecka arrives in Monte-Carlo excessive in confidence after advancing to the singles closing in Miami.
