Monte Carlo Masters 2026 Preview | Entry List, Key Contenders, History & How to Watch

The European clay-court season begins in style as the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters returns to the Monte-Carlo Country Club from 4-12 April, with nine of the world’s top 10 confirmed to compete in one of the strongest fields in recent memory.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz heads the entry list alongside world No 2 Jannik Sinner, who arrives off the back of a historic Sunshine Double, and three-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the event. With a rankings battle heating up, the first Masters 1000 on clay could set the tone for the entire road to Roland Garros. Follow our Sinner vs Djokovic H2H and Alcaraz vs Zverev H2H pages for head-to-head records between the leading contenders.

Here is everything you need to know: the key contenders, tournament history, records to watch, and how to follow the action from the UK. The draw has now been released — see our full Monte Carlo 2026 draw analysis for quarter-by-quarter breakdowns and projected paths for the top seeds. Follow our Monte Carlo 2026 results and final report: Sinner wins Monte Carlo 2026.

Monte Carlo Masters 2026 Overview

Monte Carlo is the first of three Masters 1000 events on clay, followed by Madrid and Rome before the French Open in late May. The tournament was first held in 1897, making it one of the oldest events in professional tennis. Its clifftop location overlooking the Mediterranean is considered one of the most spectacular settings in all of sport.

The No 1 Rankings Battle: Alcaraz Under Pressure

The biggest storyline heading into Monte Carlo is the rankings race between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz currently sits on 13,590 points but faces an immediate problem: he is defending 1,000 points from winning the title here in 2025. An early exit would open the door for Sinner, who has 11,450 points and missed most of the clay season last year.

Alcaraz’s shock third-round loss to Sebastian Korda at the Miami Open has raised questions about his form heading into the clay swing. However, the Spaniard’s clay-court pedigree is exceptional: he has won eight titles on the surface, including Roland Garros and two Masters 1000 events, all before his 23rd birthday. He will have spent the weeks between Miami and Monte Carlo training at his base in Spain, and historically he has responded well to setbacks.

Sinner arrives in the form of his life after completing the Sunshine Double, winning both Indian Wells and Miami without dropping a set. He beat Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 in the Miami final to claim his seventh Masters 1000 title and extend his winning streak to 12 consecutive matches. The Italian is confirmed as the second seed and is a two-time semi-finalist in Monte Carlo with a 10-4 record at the event. With zero clay points to defend from 2025, every win in Monte Carlo represents pure ranking gains.

Key Contenders

Stefanos Tsitsipas: The Monte Carlo Specialist

No player in the current field has a better record in Monte Carlo than Tsitsipas. The Greek is a three-time champion (2021, 2022, 2024) with a remarkable 24-4 career record at the event. If he wins a fourth title, he would move clear of Ilie Nastase, Bjorn Borg, and Thomas Muster into sole second place on the all-time winners list, behind only Rafael Nadal’s 11 titles.

Tsitsipas’ form in 2026 has been inconsistent, but his Dubai title in February showed he can still perform at the highest level. When the surface switches to clay, particularly at this venue, Tsitsipas is a different player entirely. He is the most dangerous floater in the draw.

Novak Djokovic: Withdrawn

Djokovic has withdrawn from Monte Carlo 2026. The 38-year-old, still chasing his 100th career title, is a two-time champion here (2013, 2015) with 39 career match wins, second only to Nadal’s 73. His absence removes one of the most experienced clay-court players from the draw and opens up the bottom half.

Alexander Zverev

Zverev has never won the Monte Carlo title and his record here is modest by his standards. The world No 3 reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells but has historically struggled with the windy conditions on the Riviera. With 1,000 ranking points available, he will be motivated, but Monte Carlo has not been his happiest hunting ground.

The Dangermen: Rublev, Musetti, Lehecka, Fils

Andrey Rublev, the 2023 champion, knows how to win here and his aggressive baseline game is well suited to the slightly faster clay in Monte Carlo. Lorenzo Musetti reached the final in 2025 and has points to defend, though his form in early 2026 has been poor. Jiri Lehecka arrives in career-best form after reaching his first Masters 1000 final in Miami, where he went unbroken through five matches before falling to Sinner. The Czech will be full of confidence and is seeded fourth. Arthur Fils, the 20-year-old Frenchman, leads six French players in the draw and has been one of the form players of the season.

Wild Cards and Special Entries

The tournament has awarded wild cards to Stan Wawrinka and Matteo Berrettini. Wawrinka, now 40, is playing his farewell season and the 2014 champion will receive an emotional reception. The Swiss recently returned to the top 100 for the first time since 2024 after winning six ATP-level matches in 2026. Berrettini, the former world No 6, adds firepower and clay-court pedigree to an already stacked field.

Monaco’s own Valentin Vacherot enters with home support after an impressive run to the R16 at the Miami Open.

Notable Absences

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn, and Ben Shelton is also not entered, a common pattern among Americans who prefer to start their clay season at the Houston Open. Holger Rune is absent with an Achilles injury, while Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Jenson Brooksby, and Alex Michelsen are also missing.

Monte Carlo Masters: The Statistics

All-Time Title Leaders

All-Time Match Wins Leaders

Nadal’s dominance here remains unmatched. Between 2005 and 2013, the Spaniard won 46 consecutive matches at the event, a record for the most consecutive wins at a single tournament by any player in the Open Era. His 11 titles are also a record for the most by any player at a single Masters 1000 event.

Key Monte Carlo Records

• Most titles: Rafael Nadal (11)
• Most consecutive titles: Rafael Nadal (8, 2005-2012)
• Most match wins: Rafael Nadal (73)
• Youngest champion: Mats Wilander (18, in 1983)
• Oldest champion: Fabio Fognini (31, in 2019)
• Monte Carlo as a French Open predictor: Of the seven players to win three or more Monte Carlo titles, six went on to win Roland Garros

Recent Champions

How to Watch Monte Carlo 2026 in the UK

The simplest way to watch the Monte Carlo Masters live is through the Bet365 live streaming service. Bet365 offers live coverage of ATP Tour matches, including Masters 1000 events, to account holders with a funded account or who have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.

To watch Monte Carlo live streams on Bet365:

1. Go to Bet365.com via this special link
2. Register an account, make a first deposit and bet £10 to receive £30 in Bet Credits. For full details of this offer, see our Bet365 tennis offer review*
3. Once registered, go to the sports homepage and select Tennis from the left-hand menu
4. Select the play icon next to any Monte Carlo match in progress and the stream window will appear

The Monte Carlo Masters is also broadcast on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK. NOW TV Sports passes are available from £14.99 for 24-hour access. For more options, see our tennis live streaming guide.

*18+ only. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. GambleAware.org. *or currency equivalent

FAQs

When is the Monte Carlo Masters 2026?

The 2026 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters runs from Saturday 4 April to Sunday 12 April 2026.

Who is the defending champion at Monte Carlo?

Carlos Alcaraz won the 2025 title, his first Monte Carlo crown. Stefanos Tsitsipas has won three of the last five editions (2021, 2022, 2024).

Who has won the most Monte Carlo titles?

Rafael Nadal holds the all-time record with 11 titles, including an incredible eight consecutive victories from 2005 to 2012. In the current field, Stefanos Tsitsipas leads with three titles.

How can I watch Monte Carlo in the UK?

The best option is Bet365 live streaming for account holders. It is also shown on Sky Sports Tennis and available via NOW TV streaming passes.

Is Jannik Sinner playing Monte Carlo 2026?

Yes. Sinner is confirmed as the second seed. He arrives in outstanding form after completing the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells + Miami) without dropping a set.