Monte-Carlo
Sinner launches twofold Monte-Carlo bid in striking fashion
24-year-old is chasing No. 1 spot and first ATP Masters 1000 title on clay
April 07, 2026
Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images
Jannik Sinner in action against Ugo Humbert on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
By Jerome Coombe
Jannik Sinner settled into his European clay-court swing in commanding fashion on Tuesday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where he launched his twofold bid in Monaco with authority.
Just nine days after becoming the first player to complete the ‘Sunshine Double’ without dropping a set, the 24-year-old carried that momentum onto clay with a confident 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ugo Humbert. Alongside chasing his maiden ATP Masters 1000 clay title this week, Sinner is also in contention to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the PIF ATP Rankings from rival and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
18 successive Masters 1000 wins 😲@janniksin‘s clay court season starts in style!@ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/E89FEexyRh
— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 7, 2026
“It was a good performance from my side,” Sinner said after improving to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Humbert. “You have to change your game style a little bit, how you approach certain situations… The first tournament [on clay] is never easy. I come here with good feelings but, at the same time, not many expectations.”
Humbert, who had impressed in his opening win over 17-year-old Moise Kouame, started brightly and outmanoeuvred Sinner in a stylish all-court exchange in the opening game. Yet the Italian quickly found his groove, unleashing his trademark power and precision from all areas of the court.
Sinner surged through the opening set and was nearly untouchable in the second, conceding just six points to seal his place in the third round in Monte-Carlo for a fourth straight year. The World No. 2 has now won a record-extending 36 consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 level, following title runs in Paris last season and at Indian Wells and Miami last month.
A two-time semi-finalist in Monaco, Sinner will next face Francisco Cerundolo or Tomas Machac while he continues his pursuit of a first Masters 1000 crown on clay. With World No. 1 also in reach, the Italian is seeded to meet Alcaraz for the first time this season in the final.
Sinner and Humbert took to Court Rainier III ahead of schedule after Roberto Bautista Agut was forced to retire injured while trailing Matteo Berrettini 0-4 after just 23 minutes.
Berrettini, the former World No. 6 who has battled injuries in recent seasons, now faces a crucial second-round clash with seventh seed Daniil Medvedev. If the Italian does not progress, he will drop outside the Top 100 for the first time since April 2024.