Monte-Carlo Masters: Draw, schedule, video as Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Cameron Norrie headline

Tennis returns to clay for the first of three ATP Masters 1000 events of the clay-court season with world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, red-hot Jannik Sinner and British No 1 Cameron Norrie all in action at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters – live on Sky Sports Tennis.

Seven of the top 10 players on the ATP Tour will compete, with Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Jack Draper among the notable absentees.

Defending champion Alcaraz and world No 2 Sinner are set to continue their fierce rivalry with a week of sun, sea and world-class tennis, with Norrie the only Briton set for singles action after Draper announced his withdrawal from the tournament.

Alcaraz won his first Monte-Carlo crown last year after beating Lorenzo Musetti of Italy 3-6 6-1 6-0 in the final, but the Spaniard will face Sinner, who enters this tournament having secured “The Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami without dropping a set.

The Italian has closed the gap between himself and Alcaraz in the race at the top of the standings.

The Spaniard is still 1,190 points ahead of the Sinner, but the 24-year-old has turned the tables heading into the clay season as Alcaraz secures 4,300 points around the European clay court.

The Sinners, on the other hand, have just 1,950 points to defend, with zero points until Roma in May.

‘The sinner must continue to improve’

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli praised Sinner’s confidence in his team, led by Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, including fitness coach Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist Alejandro Resnicoff.

“He trusts his team a lot and he has the understanding that he wants to stay at the top of the game, he has to keep improving all the time because if you sit still, you go backwards,” he said. Sky Sports Tennis after his victory in Miami.

“It takes a lot of courage and dedication to put those hard pitches on the court. It’s hard times but he also said that he can play well which gives him pride and joy in the reward of his work. [He is an] A very amazing and very deserving champion. “

Norrie flies alone

Norrie regained his place at the top of the British rankings after an impressive run to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells and will be hoping to continue his strong start to the year when he switches to clay.

Last year’s move to clay saw Norrie record some outstanding results, including reaching the fourth round of the French Open and the semi-finals of the Geneva Open.

The 30-year-old has already won one clay title at the Rio Open 2023 and will be hoping to add another to his resume.

The Monte-Carlo Country Club, in Roqbrune-Cap-Martin in the Alpes-Maritimes, was opened in 1928, and has the best view of the circuit.

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A total of 56 players will compete in the 2026 edition of the tournament. The top eight players will receive the most money in the second round.

The event will run from Sunday 5th April until Sunday 12th April with games starting at 10am UK.

The first round starts on Monday 6th April while the second round starts on Tuesday 7th April.

The quarter-finals will be on Friday 10 April. The semi-finals will be held on Saturday 11th April and the singles and doubles finals will be held on Sunday 12th April.

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