The 2025 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters commences Sunday April 6, marking the onset of the clay-court season. This prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event is held at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, adjacent to Monaco.
Tournament History and Recent Champions
Established in 1897, the Monte-Carlo Masters boasts a rich history as one of the most esteemed tournaments in men’s tennis. Rafael Nadal has been particularly dominant here, securing 11 titles, including an unprecedented eight consecutive wins from 2005 to 2012.
In the past five editions, the singles champions have been:
- 2024: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2023: Andrey Rublev
- 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2019: Fabio Fognini
Notably, the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2025 Prize Money
The total prize fund for the 2025 edition is €6,128,940. The distribution is as follows:
- Singles Champion: €946,610
- Finalist: €516,925
- Semi-finalists: €282,650
- Quarter-finalists: €154,170
- Round of 16: €82,465
- Round of 32: €44,220
- Round of 64: €24,500
Doubles champions will share €290,410.
Draw Analysis
The tournament features a 56-player draw, with the top eight seeds receiving first-round byes. The four quarters are headlined by Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Casper Ruud, and Carlos Alcaraz.
Top Half:
- First Quarter: Top seed Alexander Zverev may face Matteo Berrettini in his opening match. Potential challenges include Sebastian Korda and Lorenzo Musetti, with a possible semifinal against Stefanos Tsitsipas or Holger Rune.
- Second Quarter: Third seed Novak Djokovic could encounter Stan Wawrinka in his opener. Further rounds might pit him against Grigor Dimitrov or Nicolas Jarry, with Alex de Minaur or Daniil Medvedev as potential quarterfinal opponents.
Bottom Half:
- Third Quarter: Fourth seed Casper Ruud’s path includes potential matches against Roberto Bautista Agut or Brandon Nakashima, followed by Frances Tiafoe or Ugo Humbert. Ben Shelton or Jack Draper could await in the quarterfinals.
- Fourth Quarter: Second seed Carlos Alcaraz begins against either Fabio Fognini or Francisco Cerúndolo. Subsequent rounds may feature Félix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev, or Gaël Monfils, with a semifinal clash against Ruud or Shelton possible.
Favorable Draws
Novak Djokovic appears to have a favorable draw, avoiding Carlos Alcaraz until a potential final. His section includes Dimitrov and Wawrinka, players he has previously performed well against, providing a viable path to the final.
Carlos Alcaraz will need to overcome more difficult obstacles. He is likely to face Francisco Cerundolo in his opener who is an excellent clay court player.
Alexander Zverev, who is looking to close the gap on Jannik Sinner to reach world number one, will have to get through Berrettini, Musetti and Tsitsipas to get to the quarter finals.
First-Round Matches to Watch
Several intriguing first-round encounters include:
- Arthur Fils vs. Tallon Griekspoor: A clash between rising talents.
- Holger Rune vs. Nuno Borges: Rune, a top-10 seed, faces a potentially challenging opener.
- Jiri Lehecka vs. Sebastian Korda: Both players are known for their aggressive playstyles.
🏆 Top 10 Favorites
Here are the top contenders for the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters:
- Carlos Alcaraz – 2.62
- Novak Djokovic – 6.50
- Stefanos Tsitsipas – 9.00
- Alexander Zverev – 11.00
- Casper Ruud – 14.00
- Holger Rune – 18.00
- Jack Draper – 20.00
- Andrey Rublev – 22.00
- Taylor Fritz – 25.00
- Daniil Medvedev – 30.00
Note: Odds are subject to change as the tournament progresses.
Dark Horses
Potential underdogs who could make significant impacts include:
- Casper Ruud: 14.00
- Jack Draper: 20.00
- Francisco Cerundolo: 40.00
Prediction
Novak Djokovic fell just short in Miami against Jakub Mensik and will be desperate to get the 100th title. If he is fit and healthy, he will be in the final. With Sinner still absent and Alcaraz not in top form, the tournament is wide open. Casper Ruud has been runner up twice at the French Open and is a contender to win the lower half. With Zverev, Medvedev and Rublev not in real contention, the door is wide open for deep rins from players like Alex de Minaur, Sebastian Baez and Tallon Griekspoor. However, My feeling is a return to form for Ruud and a final against Djokovic. Djokovic to win the elusive 100th title.
Patrick.