Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2026: Full Withdrawal List
The red clay of the Monte-Carlo Country Club is calling, but as the 119th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters prepares to kick off, the conversation is dominated as much by who is missing as by who is playing. Running from April 4 to April 12, 2026, the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the European clay-court swing has been hit by a wave of high-profile withdrawals, reshuffling the deck for the world’s elite.
The Withdrawal List: Giants on the Sidelines
The most significant blow to the tournament came with the news that 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn. The two-time Monte-Carlo winner, who also skipped the Miami Open, will miss the event for the first time since 2011. While fans were eager to see the legend return to the dirt, tournament organizers confirmed his absence last week, citing a need for further recovery as he manages his late-career schedule.
The list of absentees doesn’t end there:
- Taylor Fritz: The American star is taking time off to allow a lingering knee injury to heal 100%.
- Jack Draper: After a resurgent start to 2026, the Brit has pulled out to manage an ongoing arm issue.
- Sebastian Korda: Following a deep run in Miami, Korda is sidelined with a back injury.
Tournament Schedule & Key Dates
Despite the losses, the atmosphere in the Principality remains electric. The tournament follows a prestigious nine-day schedule:
| Date | Round |
| April 4 – 5 | Qualifying Rounds |
| April 5 – 7 | First & Second Rounds |
| April 8 – 9 | Third Round & Round of 16 |
| April 10 | Quarter-finals (Starting 11:00 AM) |
| April 11 | Semi-finals (Not before 1:30 PM) |
| April 12 | Singles Final (3:00 PM) |
Top Contenders to Watch
With the tournament field now crystallized, all eyes are on Carlos Alcaraz. As the World No. 1 and defending champion, the Spaniard enters Monte-Carlo as the man to beat. Having dominated the 2025 clay season with a staggering 22-1 record on the surface, Alcaraz is looking to cement his status as the new “King of Clay” in the absence of veteran rivals like Novak Djokovic.
However, the path to the trophy is far from a solo sprint. Jannik Sinner arrives in the Principality as the most in-form player on the planet. Following a historic “Sunshine Double” victory in the United States and back-to-back Masters 1000 titles, the Italian is riding a 12-match win streak. While Sinner has historically been viewed as a hard-court specialist, his run to the finals of Roland-Garros and Rome in 2025 proved he is a formidable force on the red dirt.
The “Big Two” will face a gauntlet of elite challengers:
- Alexander Zverev: The 2026 Australian Open finalist remains a perennial threat on clay, a surface where he has already secured four Masters 1000 titles.
- Lorenzo Musetti: Last year’s Monte-Carlo finalist, Musetti’s artistic game is tailor-made for these courts. His only clay losses in a ten-week span last year were to Alcaraz himself.
- Casper Ruud: A two-time Roland-Garros finalist, Ruud treats the clay like a second home and is widely expected to find his rhythm after a quiet start to the season.
- Daniil Medvedev: While notoriously critical of the surface in the past, Medvedev’s consistency and top-tier ranking make him a dangerous floater in any draw.
As the first major test on clay, Monte-Carlo serves as the ultimate litmus test for Roland Garros ambitions. Unlike previous years where the draw was decimated by last-minute departures, the 2026 field remains historically deep. While the tournament must adapt to the absence of Novak Djokovic—who officially withdrew on March 31—the presence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner ensures the competitive stakes remain at an all-time high.