Spring has sprung: previewing Monte Carlo Masters
The countdown is on, the Monte Carlo Masters is just days away! As the tennis season enters the second quarter, following conclusion of the Sunshine Double in North America, the storylines and drama are mouth-watering and captivating in equal measure. While several players on hot streaks seek to continue their blistering start to the year (most notably Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner), others are desperate to kick-start what has been a stuttering and frustrating first three months of 2023. As the tour moves across to Europe for the Spring clay-court swing, leaving behind the Californian and Floridian sun for (no doubt) more of the same in the Mediterranean, we take stock of the movers and shakers from recent tournaments and look ahead to first of the clay court series, due to take place from 9 to 16 April at the Monte Carlo Country Club in South East France.
The historic event, one of the oldest in the tennis calendar, was founded all the way back in 1897 (126 years ago!) and since then has staged 115 editions. This year it has committed to splashing out a total prize money of €5,779,335, with its singles main draw featuring 56 players, while 24 pairs compete in the doubles tournament. Located in the picturesque commune of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin bordering Monaco on the French Riviera, the event has been dominated by none other than fan favourite and all-time great Rafa Nadal, 11-time winner on the red dirt, including eight successive titles between 2005-2012.
Though this year the Spaniard appears to have lost the race against time to recover from the left hip issue that plagued him in Australia in January. In Nadal’s absence two-time defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas remains the man to beat at this tournament despite experiencing an inconsistent start to 2023 – finalist in Melbourne in January followed by disappointing early exits in Rotterdam, Indian Wells and Miami – the Greek is certainly a player whose game is suited to playing on the red clay. Meanwhile, this year fans will be treated to the return of star-quality in former champions (but now somewhat waning warriors) Stan Wawrinka and Fabio Fognini, both well into the twilight of their careers.
Let’s take a look at a few of the best performers from the early season and assess their chances in this upcoming event.
Medvedev leading the pack
Russian Daniil Medvedev has amassed a remarkable run of match wins over the first quarter, with a 24-1 record over five hard-court tournaments in February, March and April as he swept up titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, followed up by a final appearance in Indian Wells and another title in Miami. After a disastrous end to 2022 and a premature exit in Melbourne in January, the former world number found himself briefly outside the Top 10. Since then he has bounced back to win four hard-court titles in just five events (spread across three continents!).
In doing so he has climbed back up to fourth in the rankings*, recording the most match wins of any player on tour this year (29, eight ahead of Jannik Sinner on 21), a hugely impressive feat and a measure of the player’s strength of character and mentality. He will be hoping to continue this rich vein of form with a smooth transition to the European clay courts – though it must be said, the surface is not typically fertile for the hard-court specialist, who for all his consistency, has yet to win a clay-court tournament in his career.
Alcaraz eager to bounce back
Breakthrough star from 2022 and teenage sensation from Murcia, Spain, Carlos Alcaraz was set to be the highest-profile name in the men’s draw despite relinquishing the World No. 1 position after his recent loss in the semi-finals of the Miami Open to Jannik Sinner. The nineteen-year-old has been on nigh-on unstoppable since his return to the tour in February after missing the first six weeks of the year through injury, reaching three consecutive finals and picking up titles in Buenos Aires and Indian Wells. However, the fatigue shown in his defeat to Sinner was perhaps symptomatic of overplaying since return to the tour, and unfortunately Alcaraz, along with Nadal, has been forced to withdraw from the tournament on the advice of the doctor. A real shame for the spectators who would have been eager to see a final showdown with Novak Djokovic, a mouth-watering prospect for any tennis fan, even more so given how rarely the pair have coincided over the last 12 months for one reason or another. Alcaraz’s combination of piercing groundstrokes, lightning-quick footspeed and elasticity, complemented by the unpredictable use of the drop shot are a potent cocktail on any surface, but especially on clay. We will have to wait a little longer to see the two locking horns on the biggest stage.
Djokovic seeking to consolidate return to No.1
Despite Medvedev’s irresistible form over the last three months, it is Novak Djokovic who has risen back to the top of the men’s rankings and regained the number one spot after Carlos Alcaraz failed to defend his Miami Open title from 2022. The records keep tumbling for the 22-time Grand Slam champion as he recently eclipsed Steffi Graf’s record for “Weeks at Number 1”, reaching 381 weeks – that in spite of not competing in the last two North American Masters events due a visa row over his vaccination status. Djokovic has historically been an all-surface player, able to adapt to the different conditions so will not be phased by the change from when he last competed on the acrylic in Dubai in February. With his great rival Nadal missing through injury, he will be fancying his chances of notching up a record-extending 39th career Masters title. That said, the Serb’s record in Monte Carlo is far from spotless: his win percentage there (73%) is lower than at any other Masters and he has not lifted the trophy since 2015, a barren spell judging by his standards. Expect this year to be no different, with the talent on show he will by no means have it his own way.
Nadal unable to recover in time
Speaking of Nadal, the Spanish great, sidelined since suffering left-hip issues at the Australian Open in January, has sadly been unable to get fully fit in time for the tournament. Eyeing a return in Barcelona (15-23 April), the “King of Clay” will be hoping to be in perfect shape for the upcoming Masters in Madrid and Rome to give himself the best possible preparation for the French Open, held late May in Paris. At this point Roland Garros, considered Nadal’s “home” event where he has lifted the trophy on a staggering 14 occasions, is of course where all eyes will be drawn as he continues the titanic, career-long tussle with Djokovic to be considered the all-time greatest male player. His absence, together with that of Alcaraz, blows a huge hole in the draw and puts the pressure firmly on Djokovic to make good his status as overwhelming favourite. Can the Serb take advantage and pick up his third title here eight years on from his last?
Clay-court specialists looking to kick start their season
Perhaps somewhat of an outside shout for the title is Norwegian World No. 5* Casper Ruud. The 24-year-old is not to be underestimated – twice a Grand Slam finalist last season, including at Roland Garros – he leads a group of players who can be considered clay-court specialists, with eight of his nine career titles coming on the surface, and has reached the semi-finals at each of the three Masters series tournaments held on clay (Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome).
Despite his consistency, Ruud is yet to make a breakthrough by winning a top-tier tournament (Grand Slam or Masters 1000). As with Tsitsipas, after a bumpy start to the year, which has included several early losses to lower ranked players he is expected to beat, Ruud will be desperate to regain some confidence and string some wins together on a more comfortable surface. Can he return to peak form of last year, or even go one better and lift the title here?
Meanwhile, worthy of more than an afterthought is Italian World No. 9 Jannik Sinner, undoubtedly a player to watch after deep runs in both Indian Wells and Miami. Recent epic encounters with Alcaraz have demonstrated his immense talent and ability to compete with the world’s very best; his 3-3 head-to-head with the Spaniard could prove the beginning of a budding rivalry at the very summit of the sport for years to come.
Tall and wiry, at 6’2” the 21-year-old possesses improbable speed given his height as well as power off both wings which can cause problems for any opponent. Known to be quiet and unassuming off the court, it perhaps suits Sinner to avoid the limelight, able to make steady progress in the rankings, without the excessive pressure that comes with being a household name, as evidenced by his year-to-date record, 21 wins to just five losses. Can he continue his red-hot form in Monte Carlo and pick up his first ever Masters 1000 title?
As usual, on the eve of this event the storylines are intriguing, and we are hardly scratching the surface here. With 1xBit, stay tuned for more hot takes from the most important sporting events from around the world!