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Alex Eala has revealed she received a personal message from tennis icon Rafael Nadal during her historic run at the Miami Open.

Nineteen-year-old Eala was arguably the story of this year’s event in Miami, with the Filipina defying her wildcard status to reach the last four.

Eala beat three Grand Slam champions – Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek – on her way to the last four, becoming the first woman from the Philippines to reach a WTA 1000 semi-final.

Having been ranked 140th heading into the tournament, Eala’s run saw her move up to a new high of world No 75 – becoming the first woman from her country to crack the top 100.

Eala has long been recognised as a promising junior, having lifted the US Open girls’ singles title back in 2022.

And her talent has been honed at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, where she trained for several years before graduating in 2023.

Nadal publicly congratulated Eala on social media amid her ranking-defying run at the WTA 1000 event but the teen star has now revealed she also received a direct message from the Spaniard.

“Rafa messaged me,” said Eala, speaking on Power and Play. “It was the first time he ever messaged me personally so I think that was a shock to see.

“Funny story, I only saw it like a couple of days after kasi nga punong puno yung cellphone ko [checking her phone]. It was exciting to see his notification.”

Heading into the Miami Open, Eala had limited experience on the WTA Tour – and the 19-year-old has never played a Grand Slam main draw match.

However, a ranking inside the top 100 will enable her to enter more WTA-level events, and will be enough to automatically enter the main draw of the French Open next month.

Eala’s most eye-catching win in Miami was her 6-2, 7-5 victory over reigning French Open champion Swiatek in the quarter-finals, though her third-round win over Australian Open champion Keys was even more emphatic.

Having then pushed world No 4 and 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula to three sets in the last four, all eyes are on what impact Eala could now make in the coming months.

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And, in a potential warning to the WTA field, Eala believes she has been continually “improving” – and that the “level is there” to keep challenging the very best.

She added: “I think that I have been improving for a while [on] everything. A little bit my serve, a little bit of my fitness, the quality of my shots, how to build a point.

“And, I think it took me a while to really mesh those things together and really make it come out during the matches. But as you can see, when I’m playing well, the level is really there.

“I feel this week is really gonna help with the trust that I have in myself and the trust that I have in my game, and when I need to go for those big points, then I believe that I have the level to do so.”

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The first clay-court Masters 1000 tournament of the 2025 season is underway in Monte Carlo, but which players are the leading contenders for the title?

This year’s event is the 118th edition of the prestigious clay-court tournament, which was first held in 1896.

The draw for the Monte Carlo Masters features 56 players, with 16 seeds. Stefanos Tsitsipas is the defending champion, having beaten Casper Ruud in the 2024 final.

Monte Carlo Masters 2025 seeds

1) Alexander Zverev
2) Carlos Alcaraz
3) Novak Djokovic
4) Casper Ruud
5) Jack Draper
6) Stefanos Tsitsipas
7) Andrey Rublev
8) Alex de Minaur
9) Daniil Medvedev
10) Holger Rune
11) Ben Shelton
12) Arthur Fils
13) Lorenzo Musetti
14) Frances Tiafoe
15) Grigor Dimitrov
16) Felix Auger-Aliassime

Here, we rank our top five contenders for the Monte Carlo crown.

5. Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev is the top seed in Monte Carlo in the absence of world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who remains sidelined until May 4 due to his doping ban.

The world No 2 enters the tournament having won just six of the 11 matches he has played across five tournaments since losing the Australian Open final.

The German also faces a brutal draw, with an in-form Matteo Berrettini his likely opponent in his first match.

Zverev could then meet Lorenzo Musetti in the third round before a potential quarter-final showdown with either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Holger Rune. All three of these players have previously excelled on the slow clay in Monaco. Novak Djokovic could then await if he reaches the last four.

The 27-year-old is capable of turning around his fortunes as he often plays his best tennis on clay, although Monte Carlo is the only Masters event he has not won on this surface and is by far his worst for win percentage (64% compared to 82% in Madrid and 80% in Rome).

4. Casper Ruud

Casper Ruud has endured a slightly disappointing season so far outside of a runner-up result in Dallas, but he always comes alive at this time of year.

The 11-time clay titlist was a runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2024 and he has a favourable path to make a deep run again as he seeks a maiden Masters title.

Jack Draper, Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe — none of whom are at their best on clay — are the three seeded players who stand between Ruud and a place in the semi-finals.

The 26-year-old Norwegian may, though, need to overcome a 1-4 head-to-head deficit against Carlos Alcaraz in a possible semi-final.

The fourth seed could face a similar hurdle if he plays Djokovic (1-5) or Zverev (2-4) in the final, although he has a 3-2 record against Tsitsipas despite losing to the Greek at this tournament last year.

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3. Stefanos Tsitsipas

Among active players, Stefanos Tsitsipas is undoubtedly the King of Monte Carlo, having secured the title in three of the last four years.

Despite an underwhelming Sunshine Double, Tsitsipas should arrive at his favourite event with added confidence having won the Dubai Championships after changing to a new racket just over a month ago.

The sixth seed could face a tricky third round test against 2023 Monte Carlo finalist Rune — who he lost to in Indian Wells — but it is hard not to see Tsitsipas making it to at least the final four.

The 26-year-old Greek could, though, need to overcome his two nightmare opponents to lift his fourth Monte Carlo title.

Tsitsipas has lost 11 straight matches and is 2-12 against Djokovic, who he could meet in the semi-finals, while he is 0-6 against Alcaraz, who he may face in the final. He is yet to play either Djokovic or Alcaraz in Monte Carlo.

2. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic will continue his bid for a 100th ATP title in Monte Carlo, where victory would see him complete a Triple Career Golden Masters.

It is Djokovic’s worst Masters 1000 event for win percentage (72.2%), and he has found it particularly challenging since winning his second title in 2015, although he made the semi-finals last year.

The Serbian does, though, enter this year’s edition on the back of a hugely encouraging run to the final of the Miami Open.

An in-form Djokovic should be too strong on clay for the three seeds in his section: Alex de Minaur, Daniil Medvedev and Grigor Dimitrov.

The No 3 seed would like his chances against Tsitsipas or Zverev in a potential semi-final — by which stage he would have three wins under his belt.

A projected final showdown with Alcaraz promises to be a blockbuster, with Djokovic leading the clay head-to-head 2-1 against his Spanish rival.

1. Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz arrives in Monte Carlo on a two-match losing streak after erratic displays ended his runs in Indian Wells and Miami.

While his shock loss to David Goffin in his opening match at the latter event was alarming, the extra time to prepare for the clay season could work in Alcaraz’s favour.

The surface change and quick transition from Miami to Monte Carlo is notoriously difficult for players who go deep in South Florida — as Alcaraz has found after his strong Miami runs in 2022-2024.

This will be only his second appearance at the season’s first clay-court Masters event after 2022, when he lost his first match following a Miami title win. The 21-year-old Spaniard was forced to withdraw from each of the last two editions of Monte Carlo due to injuries.

The No 2 seed will likely face a dangerous test against Francisco Cerundolo in his first match, but his route to the final looks clear thereafter.

The defending Roland Garros champion is arguably the player to beat on this surface when at his best, and it’s hard not to see him ending his wait for a big title soon.

READ NEXT: Carlos Alcaraz opens up on his tennis philosophy and reveals one thing that is ‘not good’

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Novak Djokovic has confirmed he is “dealing with some health issues” as he admitted he had “lower” expectations for his Monte Carlo Masters campaign.

World No 5 Djokovic is the third seed at the Masters 1000 event and is looking for a third title at the tournament, having previously triumphed in 2013 and 2015.

The Serbian is also looking for his 100th ATP title, having just missed out at the Miami Open.

Djokovic did not drop a set on his way to the final in Miami, though he was then beaten 7-6(4), 7-6(4) by 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in the championship match.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is among the favourites for the title in Monte Carlo, and was a semi-finalist at the event twelve months ago.

However, speaking ahead of the tournament, the 37-year-old has cast some doubt over his hopes of a 100th career title, and 41st Masters 1000 title.

Speaking to SportKlub, the Serbian confirmed that he was still suffering from the effects of an eye infection in the build-up to his campaign.

“I feel great here,” said Djokovic.

“I’ve been based in Monte Carlo for 15 years and I know this club well, I’ve trained on these grounds for so many years.

“When it comes to this tournament, I have a special motivation, and I want to go as far as possible.

“However, my expectations are lower compared to other tournaments because I didn’t have enough time to prepare for clay and this tournament. I’m still dealing with some health issues from Miami.

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“I’m trying to get the most out of these days, from the preparations and training and to manage to play more than one match, I hope.

“I’m taking it day by day, I’m the type of player who plays better as time goes on and as I play more tournaments on this surface which is quite demanding and different.”

Djokovic appeared in good spirits on site on Sunday, with the world No 5 spotted practicing with world No 3 and Monte Carlo second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who he could meet in the final.

Like all of the top eight seeds, Djokovic has the advantage of an opening-round bye at the tournament, which could aid his chances of a successful run.

The 37-year-old is set to face the winner of Alejandro Tabilo and Stan Wawrinka’s round-one match in his opener, with both of his potential opponents struggling for form in 2025.

Djokovic is then projected to face 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the third round, before an expected quarter-final against eighth seed Alex de Minaur.

Read Next: Revealed: Novak Djokovic’s projected path to 100th career title at Monte Carlo Masters

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Dominic Thiem has argued Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are as difficult to beat as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in the Big Three era.

Sinner and Alcaraz, who currently sit first and third respectively in the ATP Rankings, have won the last five Grand Slam titles between them.

Alcaraz, 21, did the French Open-Wimbledon double in 2024, having also won Wimbledon in 2023 and the US Open in 2022.

Sinner, 23, secured his maiden major crown at the 2024 Australian Open and added his second at last year’s US Open. The Italian made it three consecutive hard-court Grand Slam triumphs by defending his Australian Open title in January.

The duo are the only players from their generation to win majors, with 29-year-old Daniil Medvedev the next-youngest men’s Grand Slam champion.

The Big Three, meanwhile, won an astonishing 66 majors between them. Djokovic has secured a record 24, while Nadal and Federer retired on 22 on 20 respectively.

In an interview with Tennis Magazin, Thiem spoke about the difficulty of winning a Grand Slam title in the current era when asked about Alexander Zverev’s prospects.

“I hope Sascha wins a Grand Slam. I think his career is far too good without one,” the 2020 US Open champion and former world No 3 said.

“But even if he doesn’t make it, it’s still absolutely sensational. If he wins a Grand Slam, he’ll pretty much automatically become number one because he’s playing so consistently and so well.

“Everyone said that when the Big Three or the Big Four are gone, it will be easier because no one will come up. Now we have Sinner and Alcaraz. If they’re not injured or out for some other reason, you usually have to beat one or even both of them, and that’s really hard.

“I think Sinner and Alcaraz are probably just as hard to beat today as Federer or Djokovic were back then.

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“And there are some other really good players like Taylor Fritz when he’s playing at a really high level, like at the US Open. Winning a Grand Slam isn’t any easier than it was five or ten years ago.”

Thiem, who called time on his illustrious career in October last year, also revealed he remains happy with his decision to retire at the age of 31.

“Yes, definitely. On paper it says I had a career from 2011 to 2024, but that’s not true,” the Austrian explained.

“Your career starts when you’re eleven or twelve. Then you start to base your whole life around the sport. Before you even start playing professionally, eight or nine years have already passed, and they’re very exhausting.

“You have to put all your energy into it every day, train for hours. For me, that’s just as much a part of a career as the years when you’re famous and playing on the real tour.

“That’s why, at 31, I’ve probably had 20 years and achieved more than I ever expected. So, for me, it’s a very complete story.”

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Carlos Alcaraz has shed light on how he handles pressure and his mindset in decisive moments as he revealed a key aspect of his approach is “not a good thing.”

The four-time Grand Slam winner is set to compete at the 2025 Monte Carlo Masters, where he is the No 2 seed.

Speaking on an episode of the Louis Vuitton podcast, Alcaraz discussed a range of topics – and gave a clear definition of his playing style.

“I really want to be aggressive all the time,” he explained. “I really want to get to the net as soon as possible, hit big shots. Playing aggressively, that’s my style.”

The world No 3 divulged that he leans into this aggressive mindset when dealing with pressure in matches.

“I always think that I have to go for it,” Alcaraz continued. “Normally when I feel the pressure is in the tight moments, in the difficult moments in the match that I could lose, I could be down in the match.

“In those moments, it’s like, ‘okay, I have to go for it, I have to play my style, believe in myself.’ If I lose it, I’d feel at least  – I really want it to feel like I went for it, it couldn’t happen, so it’s okay. But go for it every time. That helped me a lot to deal with the pressure during the matches.

“When you believe in yourself, when you think that you’re the best in what you’re doing and go for it and go forward all the time, everything is gonna happen, or everything is gonna be easy at least.

“Having that good mindset, it is always helpful. So in tennis, it is pretty important thinking you are the best, you are gonna win every match, you are not gonna lose. In those moments, I am thinking, ‘go for it, you are gonna make it.’

“Sometimes I don’t enjoy. Most of the time I enjoy, I don’t feel the pressure a lot. But sometimes it’s really difficult to separate the pressure and having fun.

“When you’re playing for something really big, when the pressure and nerves are there and it is difficult to deal with. When the things are not going in the way I want to be, it’s tough to accept it sometimes.

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“But yeah, as I said, I think this is the position that I really wanted to be when I was a kid. It’s a dream that I’m coming true, and that’s why I’m trying not to feel or not to think about the pressure and just having fun, because I made my dream.”

The Spaniard admitted matches have slipped away from him as a result of relaxing and losing intensity.

“Sometimes in a match, you relax yourself, ‘okay, I’m winning.’ And you’re starting to play with less intensity, you’re not moving the same way that you were before,” said the 21-year-old.

“That happened to me a few times, and at the end of the match I lost it because of it, so I try to learn from those matches and keep the same intensity all the time.”

Alcaraz went on to suggest that his reliance on instinct in decisive moments can be a problem.

“Sometimes it is instinct, which I think is not a good thing, because sometimes in the decisive moments, in the really close ones, difficult ones, I do what I feel,” he added.

“Sometimes it’s good, sometimes – I think most of the time – it’s not too good. You have to follow a strategy, let’s say a pattern.

“But whatever I feel, I do it. Let’s say to do a dropshot, I do it. If I feel like going to the net, I do it. A lot of times did pretty well, a lot of times did it wrong.”

READ NEXT: Tim Henman gives his verdict on Carlos Alcaraz form and Jack Draper’s Wimbledon hopes

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How has Novak Djokovic managed to stay at the top of tennis for so long?

The Serbian turns 38 in May and won his first Grand Slam singles title over 17 years ago, yet remains inside the top five of the ATP Rankings – and won Olympic gold for the first time last summer.

Djokovic’s longevity has been remarkable, and his Grand Slam success in recent years has been unparalleled.

Though he did not win a major title in 2024 – and had to retire injured at the Australian Open this January – Djokovic has boosted his major title collection significantly across the past decade.

In fact, the former world No 1 has won 12 of his 24 Grand Slam titles – exactly half – since turning 30 in May 2017.

Djokovic’s success since his 30th birthday has been highlighted by four Australian Open titles and four consecutive Wimbledon titles, also claiming two French Open and two US Open titles since then.

The Serbian went 27-1 in Grand Slam matches in 2023 – the year he turned 36 – and was also one win away from the Calendar Grand Slam as a 34-year-old back in 2021.

Earlier in his career, Djokovic’s success was down to his intense movement and physicality, and his ability to stick in rallies as long as required to wear his opponent down.

However, one former opponent believes a change from that approach is key to his late-career dominance.

Former world No 6 Gilles Simon knows all too well about the challenge of facing Djokovic, having lost 11 of his 12 meetings to the 24-time Grand Slam winner.

And, the Frenchman, who retired in 2022, has noted what he believes to be a “logical” change in Djokovic’s game.

Speaking to Tennis365, Simon revealed how Djokovic has adapted to not only play more aggressively, but also manage his physicality across a match.

“It’s a very logical way,” said Simon.

“He’s serving better and better, because he needs more free points than before. He’s less capable of holding his level playing full intensity, every point from the baseline for four or five sets, what he was doing before with Rafa [Nadal] – we all watched it.

“It has already been a few years [now] where he can only play that level for one hour and a half and sometimes one set, or some moments in the match.

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“Even when he won the French Open or Wimbledon, there is one set where he is not playing it, because he needs to recover – something he would never do before. Before he was full gas, first to last point.

“That’s logical, and it’s changing also the way he plays. Instead of long rallies, maybe he’s going to go for a short point.

“He’s improving his serve to get more points there, sometimes he’s going to be a bit more aggressive at some moments, because he cannot run through the same rallies.”

Djokovic is the only man older than 30 currently inside the top 10 of the ATP Rankings, and one of just two men inside the top 30 – the other being 33-year-old Grigor Dimitrov.

Despite having missed out at the last five Grand Slam tournaments, Simon believes the “smart” tennis icon will remain a threat.

He added: “The choices he is making sometimes are different because he has to know how to handle this energy and regulate it, to play the five sets.

“That’s where the logic is different. It’s no longer: ‘No matter what happened, I will go full power first to last point’.

“He’s really smart, he understands everything, he’s super good obviously.

“He understands now how his body is responding and where the limit is, and where he has to change the choice and be a bit more aggressive to have shorter points in some moments, to hold the whole match.”

Simon was speaking in his role as an ambassador and team captain for the 2025 Roland-Garros eSeries by Renault.

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Jannik Sinner has given his first interview since he accepted a three-month suspension from professional tennis – stating that he is ‘rested’, but admits that his return won’t be ‘easy’.

The world No 1 continued his spectacular form at the 2025 Australian Open, lifting the title by dropping just two sets along the way.

However, his last eight months have not been easy – first found to have ‘no fault or negligence’ for failing two doping tests in March 2024 by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) before the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the tribunal’s decision in late-September.

Just a few weeks after his latest Melbourne triumph, it was announced that Sinner had reached a settlement with WADA to accept a three-month suspension, in return for the agency dropping their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“I’m very well, I rested and I’m happy,” Sinner stated to Sky Sports Italia.

“I would have done many different things, obviously, if I could have chosen, I would have played tennis, but I’m fine, and I’m not even thinking about it too much at the moment.”

Sinner is due to return to professional tennis at the Rome Masters, the last Masters 1000 event before Roland Garros.

“After we took this decision, it took me a while to find myself again,” stated the three-time Grand Slam champion.

“But I am still here. There is still a bit of time to digest all this, but I can’t wait to be back in Rome.

“It’s a special tournament for me, even though it will also very tough. I’ll be back in a moment in which there will be already a lot of attention on me, and in Rome it’s not easy.”

The Italian’s best result at his home Masters 1000 event was a quarter-final run in 2022, where he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(5), 6-2.

Sinner withdrew from the event in 2024 due to an ongoing hip issue, which forced his mid-tournament withdrawal from Madrid.

“I was very fragile after what happened,” he admitted.

“I would tell a lie if I said I was person without feelings or emotions. In life you learn, every year I learn more about myself, also about my value.

“It was not easy, very hard at times, but the people around me gave me the strength to understand what had happened.”

His settlement seemed like a somewhat rational decision, with WADA’s appeal due to be held April 16 – 17 and a loss potentially handing him a one or two-year ban from competing.

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Sinner, who will search for his first Roland Garros title in June this year, also acknowledged that – despite having his friends and family around him – he is ‘counting the days’ until his first professional match.

“I stopped doing what I always dreamed of doing. I am in the best position to play this sport,” the 2025 Australian Open champion commented.

“At the beginning I counted the days, but now every day that goes by, as the time gets closer, I feel better physically and mentally.

“Even if there is still time, it is a good opportunity for me to improve in those areas in which I had difficulties, on a surface on which I struggle. So, let’s try to do something different. Hopefully it works otherwise we will have more time to try again.”

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Jannik Sinner has revealed he had to accept “the lesser evil” of a three-month suspension in his first interview since his ban from ATP action began.

World No 1 Sinner is currently serving a three-month suspension after agreeing to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier this year.

WADA had announced an appeal into the severity of Sinner’s doping sanction from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which was announced in August 2024.

The ITIA found him to have been of “no fault” after twice testing positive for the banned steroid clostebol in March 2024, and was handed no suspension after successfully arguing he had been contaminated by a team member.

WADA confirmed its appeal regarding the severity of the sanction in September 2024 and was set to take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April 2025.

Had CAS ruled in WADA’s favour, Sinner could have faced a suspension of up to two years in length – though a settlement between the two parties was confirmed in February 2025.

The world No 1 is two months into his ban and is set to return at the Italian Open, which begins just days after his ban ends on May 4, 2025.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, the 23-year-old maintained that his suspension still felt “unfair” and “didn’t agree completely” with the decision.

“In the end, you have to choose the lesser evil and I believe that is what I have done,” said Sinner.

“Even if sometimes it seems a bit unfair, all that I’m living, but then if I look at things from a different perspective it could have been worse. Even more unfairness. This is the way it is.

“The decision to take the three-month suspension was rather quick. We accepted it quite quickly, even though I didn’t agree completely.

“There was a bit of back and forth with my lawyer and the people around me. After we took this decision, it took me a while to find myself again.”

Sinner has been under intense scrutiny since news of his two doping violations first emerged last August.

In one of the most emotional revelations to come from the interview, the three-time Grand Slam champion admitted to feeling “fragile” at points during the case.

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He added: “I was very fragile after what happened. I would tell a lie if I said I was person without feelings or emotions.

“In life you learn, every year I learn more about myself, also about my value. It was not easy, very hard at times, but the people around me gave me the strength to understand what had happened.”

Reaction within tennis to Sinner’s case has been divisive, with a particularly mixed reaction across active players on the ATP Tour.

Though he will likely receive a strong reception when he returns to action on home soil in Rome, there is no way of judging how the Italian’s ATP colleagues will react to his comeback.

And, Sinner himself admits he is unsure about the welcome he will receive.

“I can’t answer this question as I don’t know what could happen. I know how things went, I know I am innocent.

“I am calm because in the end I know that what I want to do is to play tennis and be serene. That’s the end of the story.

“So, I am sure all will go well, even if at the beginning it will take a while to start over. These are questions I don’t know how to answer.”

Read Next: Exclusive: Jannik Sinner’s rivals warned Italian is ‘going to play well’ on return from suspension

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Carlos Alcaraz is expected to fly to Moncao on Saturday to start his clay court campaign for 2025 and he could not have been handed a tougher task after the draw was made for the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Alcaraz has a big chance to make a leap up the ATP Rankings over the next few weeks as he missed last year’s Monte-Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open due to injury.

With 1,500 ranking points up for grabs in those events, he will be keen to make a big impression during the clay court season, but the No 2 see in Monte-Carlo has been handed arguably the toughest draw possible.

Assuming Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo comes through his first round match against Italian veteran Fabio Fognini, he will face Alcaraz in the second round and that would be a huge test for the reigning French Open champion in his opening clay court match of the year.

World No 23 Cerundolo is a clay court specialist and he confirmed he is in prime form after wins against Tommy Paul and Casper Ruud at last month’s Miami Open.

He beat Alex de Minaur at the Indian Wells Masters, also played last month, and pushed Alcaraz close in their quarter-final match in that tournament.

Playing the Spaniard on clay may appeal to Cerundolo after he reached the final of a clay court event in his Argentine homeland in February and also played clay court events in Bazil and Rio earlier this year.

If Alcaraz was to get through a potential clash with Cerundolo, he would face another dangerous clay courter in Italian Matteo Arnaldi, who took at set off him when they met in Indian Wells last month.

Casper Ruud is another dangerous opponent in Alcaraz’s half of the draw, with the Spaniard looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in his opening match at the Miami Open last month.

The four-time Grand Slam champion was brutally honest when he assessed his mood after that match, as he suggested he needed to reset his focus heading into the clay court swing on the ATP Tour.

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“It was a poor level from me,” said Alcaraz after losing to David Goffin in Miami.

“I just wanted to play better. After the first set, I thought I was going to be better. He played well, he played good tennis. My level didn’t increase. I think his level after the first set increased a little bit.

“I didn’t play well, physically I didn’t feel well. When you don’t have the confidence in your level physically, I think it’s really tough to maintain good tennis.

“I didn’t feel well in my legs. I wasn’t injured, I wasn’t sick. I was feeling perfect before the match.

“I felt good, a little bit nervous, which is normal before the match. But nothing more than that. I just felt ready, I thought that I was going to play really good tennis. It didn’t happen.”

Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who worked with tennis legend Serena Williams and is currently coaching four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, admitted he was surprises to hear Alcaraz admit publicly that he is struggling with his focus as it could boost his potential rivals.

“It was a choice for him to say that. I don’t know if it was good or not,” Mouratoglou told Tennis365 as he released his new book Champion Mindset. “If it helps him to take it out of his system to say it, to admit it, why not?

“Most other players would not say it, that is his choice. We will see how he plays now after he has said this. We will see if he feels less pressure now that he has said this, that he admitted his weakness of that moment.

“Maybe the fact that he verbalised it will put more pressure on him, we’ll see. It is unusual to hear this.

“I don’t know if this is a Spanish thing, but I remember that Rafa had a period in his career when he was losing a lot of matches and he was saying that he kind of lost his mental strength, he admitted it.

“I was very surprised when he said this, actually, but then he came back to his true self and it shows that even the great players go through doubts at some points.

“It was the same when I started with Serena. She had not won a Grand Slam for three years, she lost in the first round of Roland Garros and it was a difficult moment. Everyone goes through this at some point in their lives and their career.”

READ NEXT: Patrick Mouratoglou admits Carlos Alcaraz’s ‘unusual’ comments may come back to haunt him

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