Scouting Report
Scouting Report: Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverev chase clay-court success in Monte-Carlo
An executive summary of what every fan should know about the ATP Masters 1000 event
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 event of the season begins on Sunday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner headline the field.
Alcaraz is the defending champion but will look to bounce back from a disappointing early Miami exit when he meets Stan Wawrinka or Sebastian Baez in his opener in the Principality. Sinner arrives fresh off titles in Indian Wells and Miami and can return to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings this week.
ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch during the season’s third Masters 1000 tournament.
1) Alcaraz defending champion: Alcaraz had never won a match in Monte-Carlo prior to last year but battled through the field to capture the crown. The 22-year-old Spaniard is chasing his third title of the year after completing the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open and winning in Doha, but he will be keen to bounce back from a third-round exit last time out 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 will have to at least reach the semi-finals, while a run to his first title in the Principality will guarantee top 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 sets en route to titles in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami. The 24-year-old has never triumphed at this level on clay.
3) Is Zverev building? Alexander Zverev enjoyed runs to the semi-finals in Indian Wells and Miami but was stopped by Sinner on both occasions last month. The German is chashing his eighth Masters 1000 title and fourth on clay, having won in Rome in 2017 and Madrid in 2018 and 2021. His best results in the Principality are semi-final showings in 2018 and 2022.
4) Musetti & Tsitsipas have fond memories: Lorenzo Musetti reached his first Masters 1000 final in Monte-Carlo last year, a result which set the foundations for a European clay swing that also featured semi-final showings at Roland Garros and in Madrid and Rome. Tsitsipas is a three-time champion in Monte-Carlo but has not been close to his best recently and is currently No. 49 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Can Monte-Carlo provide 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 will open against Ugo Humbert in Monte-Carlo. The #NextGenATP star would play Sinner in the second round if he can advance in his opener.
Watch the video to learn more about Kouame
Read more 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 past, lifting the trophy at the ATP 250 event in Buenos Aires in 2025. The 19-year-old Brazilian is now making his Monte-Carlo debut and will open against Gabriel Diallo. Last month, he faced Sinner in Indian Wells and Alcaraz in Miami, pushing the Top 2 players before losing.
7) Wawrinka & Monfils to make final bows: Stan Wawrinka, 41, and Gael Monfils, 39, are both set to finish their playing careers at the end of 2026. Wawrinka clinched the crown in Monte-Carlo in 2014, while Monfils made the final in 2016. Both will compete for the final time at the event after receiving wild cards. Monfils starts against Tallon Griekspoor and Wawrinka will play Baez.
8) Vacherot leads Monegasque hopes: Valentin Vacherot shot to the limelight last year in Shanghai, when he became the lowest-ranked ATP Masters 1000 champion in history (since 1990). Now the Monegasque star will hope to replicate that on home soil, starting against Kamil Majchrzak. The 27-year-old, who reached the second round in Monte-Carlo last year, is in good form after advancing to the fourth round in Miami.
9) Can De Minaur, Auger-Aliassime, Medvedev or Ruud triumph? Seeds Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud will be seeking the winning formula in Monte-Carlo. De Minaur reached the semi-finals last year, while Auger-Aliassime has never been past the second round. Medvedev and Ruud have both won clay-court ATP Masters 1000 titles, triumphing in Rome (2023) and Madrid (2025), respectively.
10) Sinner headlines doubles field: In a star-studded field, Sinner headlines the draw. The 24-year-old will join forces with Belgian Zizou Bergs. It will be the second time this year Sinner has competed in doubles, after suffering a first-round loss in Indian Wells with Reilly Opelka.
Zverev won the title alongside Marcelo Melo in Acapulco in March and will team 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 high in confidence after advancing to the singles final in Miami.