Top five players who will miss ATP Monte Carlo Masters 2025

Jannik Sinner continues to remain absent from tour due to doping ban.

The ATP Monte Carlo Masters 2025 marks the start of the Clay season in the ATP Tour. The first quarter of 2025 saw some high-octane action both on and off the field on hard courts. Jannik Sinner started off the season with a successful defense of his Australian Open title, but he was banned for three months by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

He tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. The test took place in 2024, and Sinner accepted his negligence. WADA suspended him for three months. The last two months saw some brilliant tennis, which concluded with teenage sensation Jakub Mensik beating Novak Djokovic in the finals of the Miami Open. With Monte Carlo Masters, the journey in Clay starts as Monaco is set to host the event for the 119th time.

The tournament will feature only men’s singles and doubles players competing in it as it is one of the nine ATP 1000 events. However, a few players will be missed in Monaco for multiple reasons. Here’s a look at the top five stars whose absence will be felt in the Monte Carlo Masters.

#5 Max Purcell

Max Purcell will give it a miss at the Monte Carlo masters this year as he is serving a voluntary suspension due to a breach of the Tennis Anti-doping Programme. He admitted to having used a prohibited method by the World Anti Doping Agency. He had taken an intravenous infusion of Vitamins which overhauled the allowed threshold of 100 millimeters.

He has taken a voluntary suspension and the length of it is yet to be announced by the governing body. It is a huge blow to the Australian’s career. The 26-year-old won his second Grand Slam at the Flushing Meadows last year, and this suspension has jeopardized the chances of Purcell and his doubles partner Jordan Thompson.

To put it into perspective, Jordan has gone with four different partners in the last five tournaments with no great success.

#4 Zhizhen Zhang

Zhizhen Zhang will be another top player who will not be appearing at the Monte Carlo masters. The Chinese had a year to remember in 2024 as he made it to the semifinals of the Australian Open and to the last eight at Roland Garros. But his biggest success came in the mixed doubles category when he won the silver medal in the Paris Olympics with Wang Xinyu.

The 28-year-old has built a reputation of going big in his debut tournaments. His win over former Australian Open champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury down under was one prime example. He was expected to do similar stuff in Monte Carlo, but he decided to delay his maiden Doubles appearance in Monaco as he withdrew from the qualifying round.

Also Read: Top five men’s singles players with most titles won at ATP Monte Carlo Masters

#3 Jakub Mensik

Coming from the high of defeating the top-seeded Novak Djokovic to lift his maiden ATP 1000 title at Miami, Jakub Mensik has garnered the most attention this week. The final was a test of character and fitness as humidity was high after the match was delayed for five hours due to heavy rain.

He stood firm against Djokovic as he beat his idol to become the champion. Despite this high, the Czech decided not to take part in the Monte Carlo masters. The mental and physical fatigue of the Miami Open and the probable route of going through the qualifying rounds has made the teenager give himself some rest before the grind of clay season starts.

Also Read: Top five players with most main draw appearances at Monte Carlo Masters

#2 Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul has decided to skip the Monte Carlo masters this year. This will be the second year in succession that the American has made a call not to visit Monaco. Last year, he was out due to an Injury in the 2024 Miami Open, which forced him to retire midway through the second round. It was perceived that the American struggled on clay.

But the World No. #13 answered it with a bronze medal in the Olympics last year which was played on the Clay courts of Roland Garros. He was expected to appear at Monaco, but the American had other ideas as he opted to play ATP Houston where he has been given the top-seed. Although he might have played at the same surface, he will miss the competition as all other star players will be appearing at Monaco.

Also Read: Which tournaments will Jannik Sinner miss due to doping ban?

#1 Jannik Sinner

The biggest star attraction from Monaco, Jannik Sinner, will be missed in the Monte Carlo Masters as his suspension imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency is still in effect. The Italian has been the talking point of the ATP circuit in the last year or so, having won three of the last five Grand Slams. He also won the 2024 ATP World Tour Finals and led Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup titles.

Right when he was peaking, this doping scandal has come as a huge obstacle. Recent reports suggesting that Sinner’s former Physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi was aware of the repercussions of the substance, yet he let the Italian use them is disturbing. The fans would miss their hometown hero but would be hopeful for his strong return in May.

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