World number one Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to complete a full schedule of European clay-court tournaments as he prepares to defend his French Open title.
The Spaniard returns to his preferred surface in Monaco this week to build momentum ahead of the showpiece event at Roland Garros.
He claimed victory in Paris last June by defeating Italian rival Jannik Sinner in a thrilling final.
Embracing the dirt
Speaking to reporters in Monte Carlo, the 22-year-old expressed his excitement about returning to the natural surface.
“I miss clay every time the clay season is over,” he said.
“In my first practices, I said to my team that it’s time to get the socks dirty again.”
Despite missing last year’s Madrid Open due to injury, the seven-time Grand Slam champion intends to compete extensively before the main draw in Paris begins on 24 May.
A gruelling physical test
His intended route to the French capital includes demanding stops at Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.
“It’s very demanding physically and mentally,” he acknowledged.
“The week in Barcelona is perhaps when I should rest, but Barcelona is a very important tournament for me.”
The current world number one emphasised that managing his fitness will be crucial during this intense stretch of matches.
Building on past success
Reflecting on his previous campaign, the reigning champion credited his Monte Carlo victory as the catalyst for an exceptional year.
“After the feeling that I got here, I just got better and better,” he added.
He will open his latest campaign against either Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka or Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in the second round.
However, his primary threat remains world number two Sinner, who recently dominated the hard-court swing by winning the Sunshine Double at Indian Wells and Miami.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz and recent Miami Open champion Jannik Sinner lead the field as the ATP Tour’s European clay-court season begins at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Seven of the world’s top 10 players will compete in the principality for the first of three elite Masters 1000 events on the red dirt.
However, notable names including Novak Djokovic and rising British prospect Jack Draper are absent from the tournament schedule.
The battle for world number one
Defending champion Alcaraz secured his maiden title at this venue last year by defeating Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in a dominant final.
The Spanish sensation now faces a fierce challenge from Sinner, who recently completed the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’ at Indian Wells and Miami without dropping a single set.
The 24-year-old Italian has significantly narrowed the gap in the global rankings ahead of a crucial phase in the tennis calendar.
While the current world number one holds a 1,190-point advantage, he must defend a massive 4,300 points across the upcoming European swing.
In stark contrast, his closest rival has only 1,950 points to protect and faces no immediate pressure before the Rome tournament in May.
Praise for relentless mentality
Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli believes the recent Miami victor possesses an elite mentality and absolute trust in his coaching staff.
He has so much trust in his team and the understanding that he wants to stay at the top of the game he has to keep on improving all the time because when you stay still, you actually go backwards.
It takes a lot of courage and sacrifices to put those hard yards on the court.
Norrie carries British hopes
Following Draper’s withdrawal, Cameron Norrie remains the sole British representative in the men’s singles draw.
The left-hander recently reclaimed his status as the highest-ranked British player following a strong run to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells.
He will now aim to replicate that hard-court momentum as the physically demanding clay-court segment of the season gets underway.
World number four Iga Swiatek has appointed Francisco Roig as her new coach ahead of the clay-court season following a split from Wim Fissette.
The four-time French Open champion has recently been training with the Spanish coach at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Manacor.
Roig brings immense elite-level experience, having been a core member of Nadal’s backroom team for 16 of his 22 Grand Slam victories.
A natural fit for the clay courts
The 24-year-old is seeking to rediscover her dominant form following a turbulent period of results that culminated in an opening-round exit at the Miami Open.
Despite previous tournament success alongside Fissette, the Polish star felt her tactical development had stalled under his guidance.
Swiatek’s heavy top-spin technique and aggressive movement on the dirt surface are heavily inspired by her idol Nadal, making his former mentor an ideal tactical match.
I know there are many questions, but l’ll let you know what’s next at the right time.
Iga Swiatek
She added that she was taking time to process the experience and properly prepare for a new chapter in her career.
Raducanu continues solo approach
The new appointment comes just months after Roig was dismissed by Emma Raducanu following a second-round exit at the Australian Open in January.
The former US Open champion ended their six-month partnership amid fundamental disagreements over her playing style and attempted tweaks to her forehand.
I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit.
Emma Raducanu
The British player stated that her natural instincts on the court had been temporarily lost during a period of frequent personnel changes.
She currently remains without a full-time coach and intends to rely on a wider range of voices in the short term to avoid the pressure of public scrutiny.
Jannik Sinner has completed a historic ‘Sunshine Double’ by defeating Jiri Lehecka to win the Miami Open without dropping a single set, intensifying his rivalry with world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
The 24-year-old Italian secured a 6-4 6-4 victory over the Czech 21st seed in a rain-interrupted final on the Florida hard courts.
His latest triumph follows a flawless campaign at Indian Wells, making him the first man to capture both prestigious tournaments consecutively without losing a set.
The imperious nature of this achievement serves as a stark reminder of the widening gulf between the top two players and the rest of the men’s tour.
Closing the gap at the summit
Securing the trophy in Miami has allowed the world number two to reduce the deficit to Alcaraz at the top of the rankings to just 1,190 points.
The Spaniard suffered a surprise third-round exit at the tournament, allowing his closest rival to make significant ground.
With the European clay-court swing rapidly approaching, the pair are destined to resume their battle for the sport’s biggest prizes.
“It has been an incredible swing for me and I’m extremely happy with the work we did to be in this position.”
Jannik Sinner
The Italian has now won 34 consecutive sets at Masters events.
This astonishing run joins him with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only men to claim three consecutive titles at this tier.
A metronomic serving masterclass
Since experiencing defeats earlier in the season, the lightning-fast baseliner has relied heavily on the improved reliability of his delivery.
Metronomic precision with his opening shot laid the foundation for his success against Lehecka, where he won 92% of his first-serve points.
Hitting 70 aces over six matches marked the highest tally of his career in a three-set tournament format.
The formidable server dropped his service game only once throughout his entire flawless Miami campaign.
When facing three break points at 0-40 in the opening set of the final, he produced five inch-perfect deliveries to effortlessly escape the danger.
This remarkable ability to serve his way out of trouble drew immediate comparisons to the legendary Roger Federer at his peak.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to complete the prestigious ‘Sunshine Double’.
The Belarusian arrived at the tournament having already claimed the Indian Wells crown and successfully retained her Miami title in a thrilling three-set encounter.
Victory means she joins an elite club of just five women to win both Californian and Floridian events back-to-back in the same season.
Sabalenka survives mid-match fightback
The top seed established early dominance by racing into a 2-0 lead before fending off resistance from the world number four to secure a double break.
A powerful serving display saw the defending champion win 73 per cent of her first-serve points while closing out the opening set in commanding fashion.
However, the American challenger, who hails from nearby Delray Beach, found her rhythm in a tightly contested middle set.
Gauff struck at the pivotal moment, breaking her opponent for the only time in the match to force a deciding set and delight the local crowd.
An elite club and staggering season record
The deciding set saw the tournament favourite immediately regain her composure, breaking early before holding to love in two consecutive service games.
She sealed the championship with her fourth break of the contest when her American rival sent a decisive backhand wide.
The triumph acts as revenge for the 2025 French Open final, where Gauff previously claimed a famous victory over her fierce competitor.
By capturing consecutive stateside titles, the world’s top-ranked player joins Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek in achieving the elusive double.
It caps off an extraordinary start to the campaign, improving her formidable 2026 record to 23 wins and just a single defeat.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka offered to share her £844,000 prize money with Jessica Pegula after defeating the American in the Miami Open final.
The Belarusian secured a straight-sets 7-5 6-2 victory to claim the prestigious title in Florida.
It marked her third consecutive championship win over the hometown favourite following recent victories at the US Open and Cincinnati Open.
Displaying remarkable empathy during the trophy presentation, the reigning women’s champion apologised to her defeated rival.
A dominant rivalry
“First of all Jess, I’m so sorry, for real,” the four-time Grand Slam winner said post-match.
“If I could share the trophy with someone, trophy, prize money, points, everything – I would definitely share it with you.”
The 27-year-old went on to praise the world number five for consistently elevating her performance during their encounters.
“You’re an incredible player, you always push me so hard to play my best,” she added.
“Continue doing what you’re doing and I’m pretty sure we’re going to play many more finals.”
Pegula praises world’s best
Despite enduring another final defeat on home soil, the American runner-up was quick to commend her conqueror.
“Three finals, it’s… I really, really don’t want to like you right now,” she joked during the ceremony.
“But you’re the best player in the world for a reason.”
The world’s top-ranked player has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the current season.
She reached the Australian Open final in January before lifting the Indian Wells trophy earlier this month.
Meanwhile, her Florida-based rival recently bounced back by claiming the Dubai Championships title in February.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next month’s Monte Carlo Masters as the 24-time Grand Slam champion continues to manage an ongoing shoulder injury.
Organisers for the prestigious clay-court tournament confirmed the news via social media, sending the Serbian their best wishes for a swift recovery.
The veteran has been hampered by forearm and shoulder issues for several months.
This persistent problem recently forced him to skip the Miami Open in a bid to prioritise his long-term fitness.
Indian Wells struggles
The former world number one did compete at Indian Wells earlier in March.
However, his campaign in California ended prematurely with a round-of-16 defeat by Great Britain’s Jack Draper.
During that tournament, the tennis icon admitted he was experiencing significant discomfort when his arm cooled down between service games.
“I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through,” he told the Tennis Channel.
“If I don’t serve for five or six minutes, then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful. I’m working through it.”
Focus shifts to summer Grand Slams
By stepping away from the Monte Carlo event, the Belgrade native appears to be conserving his energy for the gruelling summer schedule.
Major targets like the French Open at Roland Garros and the grass courts of Wimbledon loom on the horizon.
Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz will be looking to defend his title in Monaco when the tournament begins on 4 April.
The young Spaniard is expected to face stiff competition from a stacked field that includes Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Coco Gauff in the Miami Open final as she stands on the brink of completing a historic Sunshine Double.
The Belarusian advanced to the showpiece event in Florida by dismantling second seed Elena Rybakina 6-4 6-3 on Thursday.
It took the top seed just 79 minutes to secure her second consecutive victory over the Kazakhstani player.
Renewing a fierce rivalry
Sabalenka will now meet American star Gauff in a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s Roland Garros final.
Gauff claimed her second Grand Slam title in that Paris encounter, prompting her opponent to criticise the teenager’s defensive style of play.
However, the reigning Australian Open champion levelled their head-to-head record at six wins apiece during the WTA Finals late last year.
Gauff earned her spot in her first Miami final by thrashing the in-form Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-1.
Preparing for an emotional battle
The world number one knows she faces a stern test against an opponent renowned for her exceptional court coverage and retrieving ability.
“A lot of rallies, a lot of emotions, a lot of aggression, a lot of fun,” said the powerful ball-striker when asked about the impending clash.
“It’s going to be a battle and I’m super excited to play her in another final.”
The 25-year-old boasts an exceptional 22-1 win-loss record this season and has reached four consecutive finals.
Chasing the Sunshine Double
A victory on Saturday would cement her place in tennis history alongside some of the sport’s greatest names.
She is aiming to become only the fifth woman to win Indian Wells and the Miami Open back-to-back.
Iga Swiatek was the last player to achieve the rare feat during the 2022 season.
The exclusive club also includes tennis legends Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka.