Monte Carlo Masters Preview: Clay season kicks off at the Principality

Djokovic and Tsitsipas will be the top 2 seeds in Monaco.

The 2023 ATP Monte Carlo Masters is set to begin from March 09 to 16 April and is the first clay court Masters series of the year. The 116th edition is set to feature the world's top players with Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic taking up the top seed.

Clay court legend Rafael Nadal and teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz will not be competing in the prestigious tournament. Alcaraz missed out on playing the Australian Open grand slam as well due to an injury.

Top Seeds

1. Novak Djokovic, 2. Stefanos Tsitsipas, 3. Daniil Medvedev, 4. Casper Ruud, 5. Andrey Rublev, 6. Holger Rune, 7. Jannik Sinner, 8. Taylor Fritz, 9. Karen Khachanov, and 10.Hubert Hurkacz

Indian Representation at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters

Rohan Bopanna will be the lone Indian taking part in the tournament (along with Matthew Ebden). He won his maiden title partnering Pablo Cuevas defeating Spanish pair Marc Lopez and Feliciana Lopez. Bopanna recently won the ATP Indian Wells Masters and became the oldest to win an ATP Masters tournament.

Players to watch out for

Stefanos Tsitsipas is the reigning champion and the second seed will look to defend his title. World number one Novak Djokovic will look to extend the gap of winning most ATP Masters titles (currently 38 followed by Nadal with 36). The top-seeded Serbian received a bye in the opening round and might face Italian Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals followed by Russian Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.

Djokovic will play his opening match (R32) with the winner of Brandon Nakashima and Mackenzie Macdonald. Djokovic is a two-time champion in the Principality, having triumphed in 2013 and 2015 and will look to add the third title to his kitty. 

Russian top seed after winning four trophies this season will look to extend the winning run this week as well. Third seed Medvedev might meet Alexander Zverev in the third round and also might face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He holds a 29-3 win-loss record this season.

Reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet Benjamin Bonzi or Zapata Miralles in his opening round (R32) after receiving a bye in R64. Tsitsipas has won two back-to-back titles and shall look to win hattrick titles. Miami Open semi-finalist Karen Khachanov takes on 2022 Monte-Carlo finalist Alejandro Fokina. In a recent development, Fabio Fognini is set to miss out on the Monte Carlo Masters after playing the tournament continuously for 13 long years. 

Where to watch the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters?

Viacom 18 and Tennis TV will be live streaming the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters.