Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Zverev.
The draw for the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters has been revealed, with all of the top three seeds – Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic – being handed tough opening matches.
At the most recent edition, Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Casper Ruud 6-1, 6-4 to lift his third trophy in the principality.
Past winners include Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andrey Rublev, Fabio Fognini, and Stan Wawrinka.
World No 4 Taylor Fritz and world No 22 Hubert Hurkacz both withdrew due to injury. Miomir Kecmanovic replaced in the Pole, whilst Roberto Bautista-Agut took the American’s place.
Alexander Zverev’s Quarter
At the top of the draw, top seed Zverev will face either a qualifier or – more likely – Matteo Berrettini in his opening match. The German will be seeking to somewhat close the gap between himself and Jannik Sinner, whose suspension from competing will end in May.
Berrettini and Zverev have met on clay on three occasions, splitting two meetings in Rome, before the higher-seeded player won their 2021 Madrid final. However, the Italian did win their last meeting – with a straight-sets win in the third round of Wimbledon in 2023.
Should Zverev get past the former Grand Slam finalist, he would face one of Lorenzo Musetti – the 13th seed – Sebastian Korda, and Jiri Lehecka in the third round. All of the potential opponents have solid clay-court resumes, with Musetti winning both of their meetings last season – including one on the red brick surface.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune are the other two seeds in this quarter. Zverev would undoubtedly rather face the Dane, winning their last three encounters, with the Greek holding a 5-1 clay-court record over the world No 2.
Novak Djokovic’s Quarter
Djokovic will be looking to make a quick turnaround from his tough Miami Open final loss against Jakub Mensik, and may need to be at a high level to defeat Stan Wawrinka. The three-time Grand Slam champion will be the Serb’s opening opponent, should he get past a qualifier.
Whilst out of form and past his prime, the Swiss is at his most dangerous on the clay – particularly in the early rounds.
Grigor Dimitrov awaits in the third round, with Jan-Lennard Struff and Nicolas Jarry as other potential options. The Bulgarian got hammered by the 24-time Grand Slam champion in Miami, but may take solace in his last clay-court meeting with Djokovic – a three-set battle – as well as his sole victory arriving on the same surface.
At the bottom of the top half of the draw, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur will compete for a spot in the last eight. Should the two meet, it promises to be a tight affair, with the Australian winning their only clay-court meeting at Roland Garros in 2024 – however, there are signs of the Russian’s level improving over recent weeks.
Casper Ruud’s Quarter
Defending finalist Casper Ruud has had an unremarkable season so far, with a 12-4 record.
The Norwegian opens against either Robert Bautista-Agut or Brandon Nakashima, with the Spaniard having significantly greater clay-court prowess and a 3-1 head-to-head over Ruud.
Frances Tiafoe has a 6-6 record in 2025, failing to get consecutive victories at any tournament. The American is Ruud’s projected third-round opponent and would be the heavy underdog, should they both meet.
2025 Indian Wells champion Jack Draper is the event’s fifth seed and sits at the top of the bottom half of the draw – with Ben Shelton the other seed in his section. Both lefties lack clay-court experience, in a section which contains ‘dirt ballers’ such as Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Tomas Etcheverry.
Ruud has yet to meet Draper and has won his last two matches against Shelton, including one on clay.
Carlos Alcaraz’s Quarter
Alcaraz, the tournament’s second seed, may have won many clay-court titles, but is yet to win a match in Monaco. In 2022, he lost a three-set match to Sebastian Korda and withdrew due to injury at the last two editions.
It won’t start easily for the Spaniard, facing the winner of Fabio Fognini and Francisco Cerundolo. The Italian won the title in 2019, where he defeated 11-time champion Rafael Nadal along the way, but has yet to meet the Argentine.
Should he collect his maiden victory, in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime – who has won two titles in 2025 – lies in waiting, with retiring Richard Gasquet and Matteo Arnaldi as other options.
In the last eight, 2023 champion Andrey Rublev is Alcaraz’s projected opponent, with Frenchman Arthur Fils, who loves the clay, also competing for a quarter-final spot.
Latest ATP News
‘He was a little soft’ – Former world No 1 on playing a young Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal fears tennis heading in wrong direction as it refuses to evolve
Best first-round matches
Francisco Cerundolo vs Fabio Fognini
Daniil Medvedev vs Karen Khachanov
Ben Shelton vs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Sebastian Korda vs Jiri Lehecka
Richard Gasquet vs Flavio Arnaldi
