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Carlos Alcaraz Gets Dream Draw at Monte-Carlo Masters

Breaking down the path to the Monte-Carlo Masters final for Carlos Alcaraz.
Pat Benson|
Carlos Alcaraz looks to defend his title at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters.
Carlos Alcaraz looks to defend his title at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters. | IMAGO / Buzzi

Carlos Alcaraz is the top-ranked men's player in the world and the defending champion at the Monte-Carlo Masters. Thanks to his dominance, Alcaraz faces the easiest path to victory in Monte Carlo. Even better, many players have already pulled out of the event.

On Friday morning, the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters draw was unveiled, and tennis fans quickly poured over the brackets to chart out their favorite player's path to the final. It quickly became clear that it will be easier for Alcaraz to defend his title at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Below is a round-by-round breakdown for Alcaraz.

Alcaraz gets a bye in the first round and will then face either Sebastian Baez or Stan Wawrinka in the second round. Alcaraz is 3-0 against Baez, but has never faced Wawrinka before.

Should Alcaraz advance to the third round, he could face either 14-seed Frances Tiafoe, Tomás Martín Etcheverry, Grigor Dimitrov, or Terence Atmane. Alcaraz is 2-1 against Tiafoe and 5-2 against Dimitrov, but has never faced either Etcheverry or Atmane.

The quarterfinals only get tougher with potential matchups against either 8-seed Alexander Bublik, Jiri Lehecka, Alejandro Tabilo, Gael Monfils, or Tallon Griekspoor. Alcaraz has never faced Bublik, is 3-1 against Lehecka, 1-0 against Tabilo, 3-1 against Monfils, and 5-0 against Griekspoor.

The semifinal could pit Alcaraz against 4-seed Lorenzo Musetti, 5-seed Alex de Minaur, Valentin Vacherot, or Jakub Mensik. Alcaraz is 7-1 against Musetti, 6-0 against de Minaur, and has never faced Vacherot or Mensik.

If Alcaraz makes it to the final, he would most likely face two-seed Jannik Sinner, 3-seed Alexander Zverev, 7-seed Daniil Medvedev, 9-seed Casper Ruud, or 13-seed Andrey Rublev. Alcaraz is 10-6 against Jannik Sinner, 7-6 against Zverev, 6-3 against Medvedev, 6-1 against Ruud, and 5-1 against Rublev.

The Spanish superstar has a clear path to the final, but that does not mean it is certain. Like many players, this will be his first clay court tournament of the season. Unlike everyone else, he has 1,000 points to defend in the ATP Rankings. If he loses to Sinner in the finals, the race for ATP World No. 1 will get much closer.

The Monte-Carlo Masters runs from April 5-12. The ATP 1000 event is played on the clay courts at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Last year, Alcaraz defeated Musetti to win the title and kick off his incredible clay court season.

Clay court season is here, and tennis fans can expect more exciting developments. Stay locked into Sports Illustrated's Serve On SI for all of your tennis news from the court and beyond.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers professional tennis for Serve on Sports Illustrated, reporting on ATP and WTA events worldwide. From Challenger tournaments to Grand Slams, he brings readers in-depth coverage, daily recaps, and exclusive interviews with some of the biggest names in the sport. With a decade of experience in sports journalism, Pat is recognized as a trusted voice in tennis media. You can contact him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.

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