Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2022, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[tented]

DATE: April 10-17, 2022
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: €5,415,410
FIELD SIZE: 56
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Stefanos Tsitsipas

Seeds:

1. Novak Djokovic
2. Alexander Zverev
3. Stefanos Tsitsipas
4. Casper Ruud
5. Andrey Rublev
6. Felix Auger-Aliassime
7. Cameron Norrie
8. Carlos Alcaraz
9. Jannik Sinner
10. Taylor Fritz
11. Hubert Hurkacz
12. Diego Schwartzman
13. Pablo Carreno Busta
14. Roberto Bautista Agut
15. Nikoloz Basilashvili
16. Lorenzo Sonego

The Tournament:

The Monte-Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, a commune that borders on Monaco. The event is part of the ATP Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. The tournament is played on clay courts and is held every year in the April–May period.

The Monte Carlo tennis championship was first held in 1897. It became an "Open" event in 1969. From 1970 through 1972 and from 1978 through 1989 it was a major tournament of the Grand Prix Tour as part of the Grand Prix Super Series top tier events. In 1973 the tournament was part of the Rothmans Spring Mediterranean Circuit. From 1974 through 1977 the tournament was part of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit. In 1990 it became an ATP Championship Series Single Week tennis event.

Beginning in 2009, Monte Carlo became the only Masters 1000 tournament not to have a mandatory player commitment. Most of the top players still elect to play the event despite this status.

Rafael Nadal won the title eight consecutive times between 2005 and 2012, making him the only player to win eight consecutive titles at the same tournament. In 2017, contesting his 11th final against Albert Ramos Viñolas, he won the title for an Open Era record 10th time. The following year, Nadal improved this record to 11 wins in a final against Kei Nishikori.

About Monte Carlo:

Monte Carlo is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter (corresponding to the former municipality of Monte Carlo), which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

Tourism Guide:

 

[tented]

The Draw:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Popcorn match and a projected Q/F in Monte Carlo Novak Djokovic vs Carlos Alcaraz.
Just looking at Monte Carlo draw.
Wont be the same without Rafa playing.,first time Rafa has missed playing at MC since 2004 I believe.

Projected Q/Finals,
Djokovic vs Alcaraz
Ruud vs Norrie
Rublev vs Zverev
Tsitsipas vs FAA

 

[rafanoy1992]

It looks like we can potentially see a Djokovic - Alcaraz QF match at Monte Carlo, I can't wait!

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic's 2nd match will likely be Goffin (who is still in contention in Morocco,) Evans (made the finals in MC last year) or RBA. None of those would be anyone you'd want to see 2nd match back in 2 months.

 

[Jelenafan]

Djokovic's 2nd match will likely be Goffin (who is still in contention in Morocco,) Evans (made the finals in MC last year) or RBA. None of those would be anyone you'd want to see 2nd match back in 2 months.

Before even that, he may meet Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in his 1st match. Fokina made the QTRS of both Roland Garos and Monte Carlo last year.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Jannik Sinner has a potential match with Garin in the 2nd round. If he can win that match, then he has a potential match with Rublev in the 3rd round. Tough draw, but if he can somehow past through those matches, he can do well on in the tournament.

FAA has a good draw to get some wins together. He does potentially face Diego in the 3rd round.

Tsitsipas does have a good draw. He can potentially reach the final with that draw assuming he can get some of his confidence back this upcoming week.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Djokovic's 2nd match will likely be Goffin (who is still in contention in Morocco,) Evans (made the finals in MC last year) or RBA. None of those would be anyone you'd want to see 2nd match back in 2 months.

RBA on clay? I feel his better surface is HC

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jannik Sinner has a potential match with Garin in the 2nd round. If he can win that match, then he has a potential match with Rublev in the 3rd round. Tough draw, but if he can somehow past through those matches, he can do well on in the tournament.

FAA has a good draw to get some wins together. He does potentially face Diego in the 3rd round.

Tsitsipas does have a good draw. He can potentially reach the final with that draw assuming he can get some of his confidence back this upcoming week.

Garin is currently playing a q/final match in Houston,leading Fritz,so he will probably make the semis there,it wont be a easy match for Sinner to begin with.

 

[Moxie]

RBA on clay? I feel his better surface is HC

I agree, and that's where he has beaten Novak. And it may not be RBA that he faces. More likely Goffin or Evans, but my point is, if you were rusty, none of them are a great option. Goffin, however much he seems past his sell-by date, actually beat Novak in MC in 2017. And he's having an OK come-back run. Dan Evans had a great run in MC last year. And RBA, while he's more of a HC guy, also knows he can beat Novak. I'm just saying there are reasons he might not want to see any of those so early.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I agree, and that's where he has beaten Novak. And it may not be RBA that he faces. More likely Goffin or Evans, but my point is, if you were rusty, none of them are a great option. Goffin, however much he seems past his sell-by date, actually beat Novak in MC in 2017. And he's having an OK come-back run. Dan Evans had a great run in MC last year. And RBA, while he's more of a HC guy, also knows he can beat Novak. I'm just saying there are reasons he might not want to see any of those so early.

Point taken....The Young Greek has a good draw to the final if he can keep his focus.

 

[Moxie]

Jannik Sinner has a potential match with Garin in the 2nd round. If he can win that match, then he has a potential match with Rublev in the 3rd round. Tough draw, but if he can somehow past through those matches, he can do well on in the tournament.

As Margaret says, Garin looks poised to beat Fritz in Houston, so that's a tough start. But I still have more faith in him than Garin or Rublev, tbh.

FAA has a good draw to get some wins together. He does potentially face Diego in the 3rd round.

FAA just lost in Morocco, so I'm not feeling great. I still think Diego is dangerous on clay.

Tsitsipas does have a good draw. He can potentially reach the final with that draw assuming he can get some of his confidence back this upcoming week.

I think he has sort of the easiest quarter, anyway. He's in the Zverev half, which is funny, with so much talk pairing them. Of the two, he's more likely to make the SF, if you ask me. I'll be almost surprised if they both do.

 

[Moxie]

I'm not planning to do a separate thread for the Draw Challenge, but just a reminder to our favorite players: @don_fabio, @rafanoy1992, @tented, @El Dude, @kskate2 and @the AntiPusher....(hope I didn't forget anyone)...get your picks in! Also, anyone who wants to play, this will tell you how:

Draw Challenge

Pit your wits against fellow members on predicting tennis draws.

www.tennisfrontier.com

This is a tricky one, IMO.

 

[rafanoy1992]

As Margaret says, Garin looks poised to beat Fritz in Houston, so that's a tough start. But I still have more faith in him than Garin or Rublev, tbh.

FAA just lost in Morocco, so I'm not feeling great. I still think Diego is dangerous on clay.

I think he has sort of the easiest quarter, anyway. He's in the Zverev half, which is funny, with so much talk pairing them. Of the two, he's more likely to make the SF, if you ask me. I'll be almost surprised if they both do.

If they do meet in the SF, I have a feeling that it will be a choke-fest like the RG semifinal encounter last year.

 

[Moxie]

If they do meet in the SF, I have a feeling that it will be a choke-fest like the RG semifinal encounter last year.

Sadly, this is what everyone thinks about them. In my first pass at the draw challenge, I have neither of them making that SF. I might change it, because Tsitsipas has a decent draw. But I might not.

 

[don_fabio]

This is a tricky one, IMO.

Thanx for reminder. I filled it in already not knowing who the qualifiers are, but ok.

European clay season begins again and I love it. There is no other part of the season that brings more joy and excitement to watch than the next 2 months. I hope to be at home by the time RG starts so I will be able to dive in to all that is going to happen in Paris.

 

[don_fabio]

Tsitsipas has a decent draw.

Greek could reach final or lose in R2 or R3, you never know with him these days. It's a coin toss IMO, but he has plenty points to defend and it's about time he starts playing well again, so looks like a good starting point here.

 

[El Dude]

I'm still traumatized from the last time I did a draw challenge, maybe a couple years ago. It was ugly.

Speaking of ugly draw challenges, any @mrzz sightings?

 

[Moxie]

I'm still traumatized from the last time I did a draw challenge, maybe a couple years ago. It was ugly.

Speaking of ugly draw challenges, any @mrzz sightings?

I approach the draw challenge the same way I do Wordle. It's all fun, and I have nothing to lose. Every once in a while you'll do great, for no reason whatsoever. I really don't understand people that find either that competitive. As to @mrzz, he has dropped in occasionally, but yes, we all miss him.

 

[Moxie]

Greek could reach final or lose in R2 or R3, you never know with him these days. It's a coin toss IMO, but he has plenty points to defend and it's about time he starts playing well again, so looks like a good starting point here.

If he defends his title, then I will give him some props. But I'm not betting my house on him. Short of that, he stays as an also-ran, IMO. These are not times for the feint of heart. Chips on the table, if you're Tsitsipas or Zverev, if you ask me.