The ATP Monte Carlo Masters, the first clay-court masters series event of the year and the unofficial starting point of the European clay-court season, has seen six of the top eight seeds making it to the quarterfinals in 2026. There should be no shortage of high octane tennis as a result and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be previewing and predicting all four quarterfinals. But who will advance?
ATP Monte Carlo Quarterfinal Predictions
Alexander Zverev vs Joao Fonseca
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alexander Zverev steadied the ship against Zizou Bergs after a scare in the second round against Cristian Garin (he enjoyed a first-round bye). It was a clinical performance from the German and it was much needed before he takes on the young prodigy in Joao Fonseca. The Brazilian has looked fantastic this week. While Zverev likes to hang back on the clay at times, Fonseca is as aggressive as they come and Zverev can generate plenty of power when he is on song. Expect brutal baseline rallies. Zverev is the bigger server but on the clay courts that advantage can be nullified more easily. Fonseca looks in form whilst Zverev has looked shaky this week at time. This could be the perfect opportunity for the Brazilian to spring an upset.
Prediction: Fonseca in 3
Alex de Minaur vs Valentin Vacherot
Head-to-head: first meeting
Alex de Minaur hasn’t had the best start to 2026, but his consistency and defensive skills have ensured he remains a reliable performer, especially on slower surfaces. Valentin Vacherot has built on his successes in 2025 and enjoyed the support of the home crowd as probably Monegasque player of all time. However, on clay, de Minaur’s movement and ability to extend rallies could expose Vacherot in pressure moments. Expect de Minaur to make it tough physically and come through against Vacherot who may well be feeling the effects of a taxing week.
Prediction: de Minaur in 2
Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Bublik
Head-to-head: first meeting
Carlos Alcaraz had to work hard in his round of 16 match but continues to build momentum on the clay. Alexander Bublik impressed with a dominant win over Jiri Lehecka and can be a dangerous, unpredictable opponent – even on a surface that does not necessarily play to his obvious strengths. This will be their first meeting and should be an entertaining clash of styles. Bublik has the ability to trouble top players, but Alcaraz looks hungry to steady his season after disappointing results in Indian Wells and Miami. Expect Alcaraz to come through in three sets.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 3
Jannik Sinner vs Felix Auger-Aliassime
Head-to-head: Sinner 4-2 Auger-Aliassime
Jannik Sinner has been in peak form since his semifinal loss at the Australian Open and looks extremely sharp. Felix Auger-Aliassime has been inconsistent, and clay is not his strongest surface, though he has shown flashes of brilliance this week. The slower conditions should favor Sinner, giving him more time to construct points and stretch rallies from the baseline. Expect Auger-Aliassime to be competitive, but Sinner looks too dialed in right now.
Prediction: Sinner in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images