Djokovic and a group of top players withdraw, making the non-mandatory Monte Carlo event slightly less star-studded!

At 11 PM Beijing time tonight, the draw results for the opening event of the European clay season, the Monte Carlo Masters, will be announced. This is the only one among the nine Masters tournaments throughout the year that does not require mandatory participation. Perhaps because of this, withdrawal news has been continuously reported so far, and it seems to be increasing...

Novak Djokovic

First is two-time tournament champion Djokovic. In terms of Masters titles, Monte Carlo is the Masters where Djokovic has won the least number of times, with his last victory dating back over a decade ago.

In recent years, Djokovic often chooses to compete in the Indian Wells Masters, but after early exits, he tends to skip the Miami Masters and directly prepare for Monte Carlo. However, his performance in this event has also been generally mediocre, often losing to players ranked far below him and rarely advancing to deeper rounds. This year, he has opted to withdraw from both Miami and Monte Carlo, citing injury reasons.

Taylor Fritz

The withdrawal of a group of American players, led by Fritz, from the Monte Carlo Masters is predictable. They generally do not favor clay tournaments, especially this non-mandatory Masters event, even if the venue is scenic.

Jack Draper

Draper's performance on clay is actually decent; last year he even reached the Madrid Masters final. Perhaps due to unsatisfactory results in the Sunshine Double, for safety, he chooses to focus on defending his significant points from last year's Madrid.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

As a former tournament runner-up, Fokina has ample reason to play this event. However, he currently holds the highest ranking among active players on the career title-less list—what might he be thinking?

Arthur Fils

As a recognized rising star in clay among the new generation, Fils' withdrawal while on a good run might seem unexpected. However, considering the heavy cost of his comeback after a serious injury at last year's French Open, conserving energy for strong performance at his home event is naturally a wise approach.

Other notable players include Jaume Munar and Sebastian Koda, while Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, and Tommy Paul are also expected to officially announce their absence soon.

The highly watched Jannik Sinner recently appeared on the tournament's doubles entry list. Based on past patterns, he should be in the singles list, but whether his physical condition can handle it remains uncertain.

Regarding defending champion Alcaraz, he naturally is the top favorite for the title. Having exited the Miami Masters early, he is already actively preparing for his title defense. Facing severe pressure to defend points during the clay season, how will he counter Sinner's challenge? It's worth watching!

Chinese player Zhang Zhizhen currently holds the third alternate position, and his chances of entering the main draw appear quite promising.（Source: Tennis Home Author: Luo Cheng Seventh Lord）