The clay swing officially begins, as the Tour heads to the French Riviera for one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. We provide Monte Carlo Masters predictions below, complete with a comprehensive preview and the entry list in full.<\/b><\/p>\n
It has been an intriguing start to the tennis season, with the recent Sunshine Double throwing up two separate maiden Masters 1000 winners.<\/span><\/p>\n Will the clay season have more surprises in store? With the usual heavy-hitters either absent, experiencing choppy form or getting bested by an exciting wave of new-gen players, the field is anyone\u2019s for the taking.<\/span><\/p>\n As the ATP heads to Monte Carlo for the third Masters 1000 event of the season, we put the tournament under the microscope.<\/span><\/p>\n The Monte Carlo returns for its 118th edition on April 6th, and runs right the way through to the final a week later on April 13th.<\/span><\/p>\n With world number one Jannik Sinner still serving his three-month doping ban, the route to silverware is made a little clearer.<\/span><\/p>\n Reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has won three of the last four editions, returns to defend his crown, while Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev are the only other previous champions set to compete.<\/span><\/p>\n 44 entrants, eight qualifiers and four wildcards make up the 56-man draw. Notable absentees include ATP No.13 Tommy Paul, as well as recent Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik who raised eyebrows after withdrawing, in order to properly prepare for the upcoming clay season.<\/span><\/p>\n Below is the full entry list \u2014 the numbers in brackets are Entry Rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n The start of the clay season will no doubt enthuse a section of the Tour with a preference for brick and shale.<\/span><\/p>\n Not least top seed Alexander Zverev, whose best results have come on this surface having clocked up a winning percentage of over 70% on clay across his career.<\/span><\/p>\n Although twice a semi-finalist here, he has crashed out in the third round in the previous two editions.<\/span><\/p>\n Elsewhere, 2024 champion Stefanos Tsitsipas has garnered his fair share of critics since that win, continuing to struggle with living up to his early-career hype.<\/span><\/p>\n He did however claim a surprise win at the Dubai Open to send a signal of his intent this season, and having won more in Monte Carlo than anywhere else, he returns to an event that is intrinsically linked with the seventh seed.<\/span><\/p>\n Last year\u2019s runner-up Casper Ruud has, in previous years, famously sprung into action when the clay season comes around.<\/span><\/p>\n It is clearly where his game excels the most, securing titles in Barcelona and Geneva in 2024, while also making his mark in Monte Carlo after falling at the final hurdle.<\/span><\/p>\n Although Carlos Alcaraz will no doubt be favoured by bookmakers, it is hard to decipher where his chances lie having withdrawn from the tournament in the last two years.<\/span><\/p>\n The four-time Grand Slam champion has endured a choppy start to 2025, clinching the Rotterdam Open in February but ending his Sunshine Double campaigns with erratic performances.<\/span><\/p>\n Write him off at your peril however; the 21-year-old wins just under 82% of his matches on clay courts and has consistently won at least one major tournament on this surface over the last three years.<\/span><\/p>\n Previous champions Novak Djokovic and Andrey Rublev know what it takes to win here, while British number one Jack Draper will use his maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells to hopefully springboard an elite breakout season. However, there is nothing to suggest his previous record on clay is enough to taste success in Monte Carlo.<\/span><\/p>\n Although recent form leaves a lot to be desired, we think it is hard to ignore the respective records on this surface of last year\u2019s finalists, Tsitsipas and Ruud.<\/span><\/p>\n If the current season is anything to go by, relying on the favourites to back up their claims is not proving wise as the playing field becomes refreshingly level.<\/span><\/p>\n Tsitsipas is likely to be a popular Monte Carlo Masters prediction for the outright winner given he has three career titles here, but Ruud can use this clay season opener to transform his misfortunes so far in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The clay swing officially begins, as the Tour heads to the French Riviera for one of the most prestigious events on the calendar. We provide Monte Carlo Masters predictions below, complete with a comprehensive preview and the entry list in full. It has been an intriguing start to the tennis season, with the recent Sunshine […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":313,"featured_media":44091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tennis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen is the Monte Carlo Masters 2025?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Monte Carlo Masters Schedule of Play<\/h2>\n
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Monte Carlo Masters Entry List in Full<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Monte Carlo Masters Predictions and Preview<\/b><\/h2>\n