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<\/p>\n Celebrities
\n Could Monte-Carlo tennis be key to Rory McIlroy’s success at The Masters?<\/p>\n
McIlroy speaks about Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters at Augusta<\/p>\n
April 11, 2026<\/p>\n
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Getty Images\/ATP Tour<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy has been watching the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion.
\n By ATP Staff<\/p>\n
Could the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters<\/a> be the key to Rory McIlroy\u2019s success at The Masters?<\/p>\n After finishing his second round with a six-stroke lead in the iconic golf tournament, McIlroy spoke to the media about his plans for the leadup to Saturday\u2019s third round. The defending champion\u2019s mind went to tennis, not golf.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll probably try to keep my mind off it. That distraction is usually a good thing for me, especially with a late tee time and the lead,\u201d McIlroy said in his press conference. \u201cSo yeah, there are actually two really good semi-finals at Monte-Carlo in the tennis, so I\u2019ll watch that. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s Sinner and Zverev, and Vacherot and Alcaraz, so I\u2019ll watch those. We\u2019ve been watching the tennis early in the mornings, so I\u2019ll do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jannik Sinner<\/a> will put his 20-match ATP Masters 1000 winning streak on the line against Alexander Zverev<\/a> in the first semi-final, which will begin not before 7:30 a.m. McIlroy\u2019s time (The golfer is competing in the United States). Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> will then take on home favourite Valentin Vacherot<\/a> not before 9:30 a.m. McIlroy\u2019s time.<\/p>\n