All eyes will be on the Monte-Carlo Masters as we get underway on the Road to Roland Garros with the first major clay-court event of the season.
The men’s clay-court season begins at the end of March with events in Houston, Marrakesh, and Bucharest. Monte Carlo is the first high-profile event of the clay-court swing, starting on April 7. A Masters event with 1000 points at stake, this is our first proper look at the world’s best clay players.
Nine of the world’s top 10 players feature in the tennis betting markets for this year’s Monte Carlo Masters with the suspended Jannik Sinner the only player to miss out.
Having won in Monte Carlo in three of the last four years, Stefanos Tsitsipas will inevitably be a popular betting pick this time around, despite a round of 16 exit at Indian Wells. The Greek is at his best on clay, winning 76.3% of his matches throughout his career.
Struggling Zverev
Alexander Zverev is the number one seed for the Monte Carlo Masters despite a string of poor results on the hard courts.
Since losing to Sinner in the Australian Open final, Zverev has hit a serious slump, with losses to Tallon Griekspoor (34th in the world), Learner Tien (66th), and Francisco Comesana (67th) in his last three events.
Returning to his favoured surface could break Zverev out of this rut. His winning percentage on clay is north of 70%, making it considerably better than the hard or grass courts. He has claimed clay titles in Rome and Hamburg in the last two years.
Still, Zverev’s form doesn’t warrant any confidence from bettors. There are several players we would put ahead of him if making pre-tournament power rankings, so we will steer well clear unless his price gets up to 10/1 or beyond.
Alcaraz Worth Backing
Don’t be put off by Carlos Alcaraz’s mediocre record at the Monte Carlo Masters. He wins just under 82% of his matches on clay courts and has won at least one of the top clay-court tournaments in each of the last three years.
A loss to in-form Jack Draper at Indian Wells isn’t anything to concern bettors too much. This is a great opportunity for the Spaniard to claim his second title of the year.
There’s nothing in his statistics to suggest he’s going to flop when the clay-court campaign begins. If he nails 60+% of his first serves, his versatility in backcourt rallies will stand him in good stead.
Rest of the Field
Draper, fresh off a final in Doha and title at Indian Wells, is unlikely to be a factor in Monte Carlo. He’s won less than half of his clay-court matches in his young career.
Aside from a trip to the final in Dallas, Casper Ruud – loser of the 2024 final to Tsitsipas – has been woefully out of form.
The Norwegian has only won 20% of his return games so far this year but boasts a 27% win rate in return games on clay courts for his career.
Given his struggles in 2025, Ruud is an interesting buy-low option for bettors. He’s generally played his best tennis on the clay courts.
Holger Rune is also worth consideration. The Dane defeated Daniil Medvedev and Sinner en route to a three-set loss to Tsitsipas at the competition in 2023. A run to the final at Indians Wells represented a return to form, but Rune hasn’t won a title since 2023.
Previous Monte-Carlo Masters Winners
- 2024 – Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2023 – Andrey Rublev
- 2022 – Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2021 – Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2020 – Cancelled
- 2019 – Fabio Fognini
- 2018 – Rafael Nadal
- 2017 – Rafael Nadal
- 2016 – Rafael Nadal
- 2015 – Novak Djokovic
- 2014 – Stan Wawrinka
- 2013 – Novak Djokovic
- 2012 – Rafael Nadal
- 2011 – Rafael Nadal
- 2010 – Rafael Nadal
- 2009 – Rafael Nadal
- 2008 – Rafael Nadal
- 2007 – Rafael Nadal
- 2006 – Rafael Nadal
- 2005 – Rafael Nadal
