Alcaraz 'surprised' by Sinner's decision to play in Monte-Carlo after Sunshine Double success

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was surprised Jannik Sinner chose to play in the Monte-Carlo Masters, but is excited about the possibility of renewing their rivalry.

Sinner made history last month as he wrapped up the Sunshine Double without dropping a set, beating Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final before battling past Jiri Lehecka in the Miami Open showpiece.

He became the first male player to win both titles since Roger Federer in 2017, while he is also just the third player to win his first seven ATP Masters 1000 titles on a single surface.

And those two triumphs mean that Sinner is now closing in on Alcaraz at the top of the ATP rankings, after the Spaniard was knocked out of Indian Wells at the semi-finals before a second-round exit in Miami.

The Monte-Carlo Masters is the only Masters 1000 event that is not obligatory for players, but Sinner has not opted out of it, knowing that winning the tournament will take him back to world number one.

"Honestly, I was surprised that Jannik, after the Indian Wells and Miami tour, came to play in Monte-Carlo," Alcaraz told Sky Sports.

"But obviously, this shows what he is capable of doing right now.

"Hopefully, we can play here in Monte-Carlo. Who knows? This year, we didn't even play one time yet. Hopefully, it happens in the clay season."

Alcaraz comes to Monte-Carlo as the defending champion and is looking to emulate last season's success in the European clay swing; his winning run at the tournament started a streak of 33 wins in 34 matches.

"This week was really, really important. I would say that was the turning point of 2025," Alcaraz told ATP Media.

"After the feeling that I got here, I just got better and better. I understood, and I realised how I should play after this week.

"That's why I just did an exceptional year after this one. I do remember I didn't play that well, but everything that came after that, it was an amazing moment for me.

"I started playing tennis on clay courts. I grew up playing on clay courts. I started playing at four, and I just [didn't] touch a hard court until eight years old, and I just touched it barely, so I was always on clay courts.

"That's why I got the feeling of playing the clay season, and when the clay season is over, you have to wait almost one year to play again. So, it's a really long period of time, at least for me."

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