Monte-Carlo Masters Kicks Off 2025 Clay Season with Star-Studded Lineup

MONTE CARLO, Monaco — The 2025 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters officially commenced on April 6, marking the start of the clay-court ATP Masters 1000 season. This prestigious tournament, renowned for its stunning backdrop and rich history, features a competitive field eager to claim the title.

Defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas is among the crowd favorites, looking to build on his success in Monte-Carlo where he has won three of the last four editions. “It is a good sensation being here and I enjoy the fact I also live here,” Tsitsipas said during Media Day. “Being a champion here is something that makes me feel really good, and I want to try and add to those moments of legacy.”

To solidify his status, a fourth title would place Tsitsipas among the tournament’s all-time greats, surpassing legends Ilie Nastase, Bjorn Borg, and Thomas Muster. Currently seeded at No. 6, Tsitsipas aims to perform consistently throughout the clay season, having previously noted the challenges he faced last year after winning in Monte-Carlo.

“My goal is to maximize my performance during all the clay court tournaments,” Tsitsipas added. “I feel my game has good potential to perform even better.” He is set to face either Jordan Thompson or Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round.

With Rafael Nadal‘s retirement leaving the tournament without its most successful player, the quest for the new king of clay is wide open. World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz also hopes to regain form after struggles on the court. The reigning French Open champion is determined to capitalize on his clay expertise to outperform upcoming competition.

“I am really happy with the way I am playing,” Alcaraz stated. “I want to take this positive energy into the tournament.” Meanwhile, two-time winner Novak Djokovic is also expected to make an emotional appearance in Monte-Carlo, as speculation grows that this may be his last tournament there before retirement.

The stakes are high, with a total prize pool of €6,128,940 allocated for the tournament. The singles champion will take home a substantial €946,610, while the winning doubles team will earn €290,410. These figures reflect the tournament’s status as a premier event on the ATP calendar.

As the competition unfolds from April 6 to 13, fans can anticipate thrilling matches with top-ranked players vying for triumph on the red clay. Daily updates, reviews, and results from the Monte-Carlo Masters will be provided to keep audiences engaged and informed throughout the week.