The most recent player to temper expectations over his prospects at the Monte-Carlo Masters is Jannik Sinner. This year, the world No. 2 is the player to beat, having won three tournaments and dropped just one. However, he is setting shockingly modest standards for himself at the season’s first clay event, much like Novak Djokovic.
Despite Djokovic’s superior seeding in Monaco, Sinner is a formidable opponent. The 22-year-old, who has also taken home trophies from the Australian Open and Rotterdam, just won his third trophy of the year at the Miami Open. In 2024, he only lost one, in the Indian Wells semifinal.
Sinner has been named the best player of the year thus far by Djokovic himself. However, the man himself isn’t sure that his winning streak at the Masters of Monte-Carlo will hold true. Prior to the competition, Sinner stated, “The expectations are not that high for this for this beginning of clay.”
To be prepared for Roland Garros and, ideally, the Olympics is the aim. I suppose that trying to be at your best there is the aim for every player. Sinner lifts the prize in Florida and has a short turnaround between Miami and Monte Carlo.
Last year, after losing in the Miami final, he handled a similar circumstance admirably, making it to the semi-finals in Monaco. The world No. 2 is still apprehensive to think too highly of the Monte-Carlo Masters, viewing the event this week as a kind of warm-up for the remainder of the clay swing.
“We’re going to use this week as a practice week,” he went on. “Hopefully, we’ll play in more than one match, but it should be interesting to watch.” Simply put, I’m glad to be here. This is a unique competition, and perhaps I can do well.
It follows such remarks made by Djokovic prior to this week’s Masters 1000 competition. The world number one seed lost to Luca Nardi, who was ranked 123 at the time, in the third round at Indian Wells, and hasn’t played a match in four weeks.