The Monte Carlo Masters has arrived, with many ATP stars now looking to make a successful transition from hard courts to clay courts.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed and defending champion in Monaco, where his fierce rival Jannik Sinner is also competing.
And it is the Italian who enters the ATP Masters 1000 tournament as the in-form player, having just completed the Sunshine Double.
Intriguingly, Sinner has also committed to playing doubles at the Monte Carlo Masters, which has thrown up three blockbuster matches in the opening round.
Will Carlos Alcaraz bounce back by winning the Monte Carlo Masters?
If not, who will win the title?
Jannik Sinner/Zizou Bergs vs Tomas Machac/Casper Ruud
Having partnered with American Reilly Opelka at Indian Wells, Sinner has decided to pair up with Belgian talent Zizou Bergs in Monaco.
It’s certainly not a common theme from the Italian, who has largely focused on singles throughout his stunning career.
But he’s now eyeing a second ATP doubles title at Monte Carlo, where he and Bergs start out against fellow singles stars Tomas Machac and Casper Ruud.
Andrey Rublev/Karen Khachanov vs Jakub Mensik/Jiri Lehecka
There are plenty of other high-profile singles players taking on the doubles event, including Andrey Rublev.
He has decided to partner his fellow Russian Karen Khachanov, with that duo drawn against Czech stars Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka in round one.
The former clinched the Miami Open title last year with a final win over Novak Djokovic, while the latter just lost this year’s Miami final to Sinner.
Alex de Minaur/Cameron Norrie vs Matteo Berrettini/Andrea Vavassori
Like Czech aces Mensik and Lehecka, Matteo Berrettini and Andrea Vavassori have decided to form an all-Italian pairing in Monaco.
And they should be in for a blockbuster meeting with ATP singles stars Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie.
Vavassori is certainly the outlier in that match, with the Italian boasting 12 doubles titles, having also reached three Grand Slam finals in his fine career in the format.
| Result | Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 2024 | Australian Open | Simone Bolelli | Rohan Bopanna, Matthew Ebden | 6–7(0–7), 5–7 |
| Loss | 2024 | French Open | Simone Bolelli | Marcelo Arevalo, Mate Pavic | 5–7, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2025 | Australian Open | Simone Bolelli | Harri Heliovaara, Henry Patten | 7–6(18–16), 6–7(5–7), 3–6 |
Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas playing Monte Carlo Masters doubles
The intriguing pairings definitely don’t end there, with Alexander Zverev linking up with doubles legend Marcelo Melo.
Moreover, Stefanos Tsitsipas is in as a wildcard with his brother Pavlos Tsitsipas, while cousins Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech are also joining forces.
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos are the top seeds at the Monte Carlo Masters, which also features British duo Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash.
The latter pairing reached the final last time out, but were beaten 6-1, 6-7, 8-10 by wildcards Romain Arneodo and Manuel Guinard.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
