Alcaraz defends title as Djokovic withdraws from first clay Masters 1000 of the season
The 2026 European clay-court season officially begins this week as tennis fans descends on the French Riviera for the 119th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Running from April 4-12 at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, the first Masters 1000 event on clay looks promising.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz headlines a great field, but the tournament has been hit by some high-profile withdrawals, most notably Novak Djokovic, who will miss the event for the first time since 2011.
Tournament Schedule
Key Dates:
- Friday, April 4 (5:00 PM local): Draw ceremony at Monte-Carlo Bay (broadcast live on tournament Facebook page and Monaco Info)
- Saturday, April 4: Qualifying rounds begin (14 matches from 11:00 AM)
- Sunday, April 5: Final qualifying round and main draw first round
- Monday, April 6: Main draw continues
- Saturday, April 12: Singles and doubles finals
The main draw features 56 players competing across one week of intense clay-court action at one of tennis’s most picturesque venues.
Prize Money Breakdown
The total prize pool stands at €6,309,095, distributed as follows:
Singles:
- Winner: €974,370 / 1,000 points
- Finalist: €532,120 / 650 points
- Semi-finalist: €290,960 / 400 points
- Quarter-finalist: €158,700 / 200 points
- Round of 16: €84,890 / 100 points
- Round of 32: €45,520 / 50 points
- Round of 64: €25,220 / 10 points
Doubles (per team):
- Winner: €298,950 / 1,000 points
- Finalist: €162,400 / 600 points
- Semi-finalist: €89,210 / 360 points
- Quarter-finalist: €49,220 / 180 points
- Round of 16: €27,050 / 90 points
Who’s playing?
The Favorites
Carlos Alcaraz (Seed 1, World No. 1)
The defending champion returns to the scene of his 2025 triumph, where he rallied from a set down to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. The seven-time Grand Slam champion enters under pressure to defend his 1,000 points but arrives in similar form to last year.
Jannik Sinner (Seed 2, World No. 2)
Fresh off consecutive Masters 1000 titles at Indian Wells and Miami, Sinner arrives on a wave of momentum. The Italian is seeking his fourth consecutive Masters 1000 crown and his first title in Monte Carlo after reaching consecutive semi-finals in previous years.
Alexander Zverev (Seed 3)
The German continues his quest for a first title of 2026 after reaching multiple semi-finals without breaking through to a final. Zverev is a fantastic clay-court player and has shown flashes of brilliance this season. With Djokovic absent, he might be a dark horse to claim the title.
Additional Top-10 Seeds
- Lorenzo Musetti (Seed 4) – Last year’s finalist
- Alex de Minaur (Seed 5)
- Félix Auger-Aliassime (Seed 6)
- Daniil Medvedev (Seed 7)
- Alexander Bublik (Seed 8)
For the first time in tournament history, a Monégasque player, Valentin Vacherot, has entered the main draw directly on merit, providing local fans with a special reason to celebrate.
No place like home ?
— Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 1, 2026
Looking forward to welcoming @val_vacherot back to the #RolexMonteCarloMasters! pic.twitter.com/f38i4bGMLj
High-Profile Withdrawals
The tournament has been hit by several significant withdrawals:
Novak Djokovic (Would be Seed 4)
The two-time champion (2013, 2015) cited a right shoulder injury and Novak will miss the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time since 2011.
Replacement: Sebastián Báez
Taylor Fritz (Would be Seed 8)
The American has been managing knee tendinitis since the beginning of 2026 and decided to take time off to “get it healed 100 percent.” Fritz’s withdrawal opens the door for other players to make deep runs.
Replacement: Térence Atmane (France)
Jack Draper (Great Britain)
The rising British star continues his comeback from a 2025 arm injury. After missing the second half of last season and the start of 2026, Draper returned in February and reached the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
Replacement: Daniel Altmaier (Germany)
Sebastian Korda (USA)
The Delray Beach champion has also withdrawn from the event.
Replacement: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (France)
Wild Cards, Legends and Rising Stars
The tournament has awarded four main draw wild cards:
Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) – Farewell Tour
The 40-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion will make his 16th main draw appearance at the clay-court event. Wawrinka, who holds a 22-14 record in Monte Carlo, won his only Masters 1000 crown here in 2014 when he defeated Roger Federer in a memorable final.
Gael Monfils (France) – Final Chapter
The 39-year-old charismatic Frenchman will play the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters for the final time as he approaches the end of his fantastic career.
Matteo Berrettini (Italy)
The former Wimbledon finalist and Top 10 player aims to reclaim his spot among the elite after seasons hampered by injuries. Back in action since February, Berrettini sees Monte Carlo as the perfect opportunity for a definitive comeback on clay.
Moise Kouame (France) – Rising Talent
At just 17 years old, Moise Kouame will make his first appearance in a Masters 1000 main draw. The young Frenchman has impressed in early 2026, becoming the first player born in 2009 to reach the semi-finals of a Challenger tournament in Lille. Now clearly one of French tennis’s most promising young talents.
The field also includes:
- Hubert Hurkacz – Using protected ranking to enter
- Tommy Paul, Cameron Norrie, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud – Experienced clay-courters
- Arthur Fils, Ugo Humbert, Corentin Moutet, Arthur Rinderknech – Strong French contingent
- João Fonseca, Alex Michelsen, Learner Tien – Next-generation talents
- Seven qualifiers to be determined
To get more info on who will be strong on the red dirt this season, check our clay power rankings for ATP (and here for WTA).
Good test ahead of French Open
Beyond prize money and ranking points, the Monte Carlo Masters serves as the ultimate test for clay-court form ahead of Roland Garros. Success here often predicts French Open performance.
With Djokovic absent and the field wide open, expect:
- Alcaraz under pressure to defend 1,000 points
- Sinner hunting his first Monte Carlo title and narrowing the World No. 1 gap
- Zverev seeking his elusive 2026 title breakthrough
- Veterans Wawrinka and Monfils receiving emotional send-offs
- Young talents like Kouamé making their Masters 1000 main draw debuts
- Berrettini attempting a comeback to the top tier
How to watch the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters
United Kingdom: Sky Sports and Tennis TV
International: Tennis TV (subscription required)
Social Media: Follow @RolexMCMasters on X (Twitter) and Instagram @rolexmontecarlomasters
The draw ceremony is on Friday at 5:00 PM local time.
