MONACO - The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters first-round singles and doubles action kicks off Sunday at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, home for the first Masters 1000 of the clay season.
The astonishing setting of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, welcomed the players battling in their final qualifying match for a spot in the main draw on Sunday.
In the afternoon, local time, first-round singles action will get underway as Frenchman Richard Gasquet hits Court Rainier III to face Italian Matteo Arnaldi.
The organizers of the 118th edition of the prestigious tournament awarded the former world number seven a wild card, and he is making his final appearance at the event.
Gasquet, 38, will draw an outstanding career, spanning over two decades, to an end following his home major, Roland-Garros.
One of the highlights of an action-packed Sunday is the matchup between Australian Jordan Thompson vs. French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard; the winner is set to meet reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.
Big names also will take the court to launch their doubles campaigns, such as the likes of three-time champion Tsitsipas, who is pairing with his brother Petros, meeting American duo Christian Harrison and Evan King.
Furthermore, top singles-seeded Alexander Zverev joining Brazilian Marcelo Melo; the pairing meets British duo Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool.
Croat Nikola Mektic and New Zealander Michael Venus will face Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev reuniting at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, aiming to repeat the success they achieved together at the Mutua Madrid Open in 2023, defeating Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden to win their biggest career doubles title.
Bopanna will also take the court on Sunday, pairing American Ben Shelton to face in-form Argentine Francisco Cerundolo and Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo.
