Should Sinner go on to win the tournament, he would become just the second player in ATP history to sweep the Miami Open and Monte-Carlo Masters back-to-back. Djokovic is currently the only man to accomplish this, having pulled off the “Sunshine-to-Clay” transition in 2015.

To reach that milestone, Sinner must first move past Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals. A win there would set up a semifinal clash against either rising star Joao Fonseca or third seed Alexander Zverev, with a potential showdown against Carlos Alcaraz looming in the final.

Sinner’s record-breaking set streak snapped

While Sinner secured the win, he saw a historic personal streak come to an end against Machac. The World No. 2 lost his first set in an ATP Masters 1000 event since last October, ending a run of 37 consecutive sets won at the Masters level.

Sinner’s dominance began at the 2025 Paris Masters and continued through a historic start to 2026. Last month, he became the first player to complete the “Sunshine Double”—winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back—without dropping a single set. Machac’s second-set tiebreak win on Thursday marked the first time Sinner had been pushed to a third set in a Masters tournament in over six months.

The battle for World No.1

The stakes in Monte-Carlo extend beyond the trophy, as the ATP No. 1 ranking is once again within Sinner’s reach. The Italian controls his own destiny; a title win this weekend would guarantee his return to the top of the rankings, regardless of other results.

However, Sinner could also reclaim the throne even without the title. If Carlos Alcaraz fails to reach the final, Sinner simply needs a runner-up finish to displace the Spaniard and return to World No. 1 for the first time since November 2025.

Speaking to the media in the Principality, the Spaniard expressed surprise and admiration for Sinner’s decision to compete in Monte Carlo so soon after his grueling “Sunshine Double” run in the States.

“Honestly, it surprised me that Jannik came to play here after Indian Wells and Miami,” Alcaraz said. “It shows the incredible physical condition he’s in. I really hope we can face each other here; we haven’t played a single time this season, and I’d love for that to happen on the clay!”Alcaraz is eager to kick off his 2026 clay campaign.

For fans, an Alcaraz-Sinner showdown would be the ultimate highlight of the week, especially given the high stakes: the winner-takes-all scenario for the world No. 1 ranking.

The path to a showdown between Alcaraz and Sinner

Because Alcaraz and Sinner are anchored at opposite ends of the bracket as the top two seeds, they are on a collision course that can only happen in the finals. Both stars face a gauntlet before they can reach that hypothetical championship match.

Alcaraz opens his campaign in the second round against clay-court specialist Sebastián Baez, while Sinner is projected to face Ugo Humbert. To make the “Sincaraz” final a reality, both players will need to navigate a field that includes the likes of Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud.

A statistical stalemate

An Alcaraz-Sinner clash in Monte Carlo would add a massive chapter to their “era-defining” rivalry. Heading into this tournament, Alcaraz holds a slim 11-6 lead in their head-to-head series (including a win in their epic 2025 French Open final).

“His case had many red flags. There was no transparency or consistency,” Djokovic told Piers Morgan Uncensored. “The timing of the ban—ensuring he didn’t miss a Slam—was odd. I hate how it was handled. When you see someone else banned for four years and him for only three months, it’s just not fair.”

While Sinner did serve a brief, quiet provisional suspension, his ability to continue competing at the highest level—including reaching a Masters 1000 final shortly after the notification—has drawn scrutiny. For many players, a positive test results in an immediate, public sideline that can derail a career for years.

The ‘red flags’ in the Sinner verdict

The Sinner case deviated sharply from standard anti-doping protocol. Typically, a positive test is met with an immediate public provisional suspension. However, news of Sinner’s two positive tests only surfaced five months after the fact, once an independent panel had already cleared him of “fault or negligence.”

Critics, including Djokovic, point to several key factors that suggest a “white-glove” treatment for the Italian star:

• Sinner’s legal team filed “emergency” appeals within hours of both notifications. These were granted privately, allowing him to stay on tour while the investigation remained under wraps.
• Sinner’s team argued that his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, used an over-the-counter spray (Trofodermin) containing the steroid to treat a cut on his own finger. Naldi then reportedly massaged Sinner without gloves, leading to skin-to-skin contamination.
• Under WADA’s “Strict Liability” rules, athletes are traditionally held responsible for the actions of their staff. Many argue that even if the contamination was unintentional, Sinner should have been held to the same “negligence” standard that has seen lower-ranked players banned for years.

The CAS verdict looms

The saga is far from over. Despite the initial ruling that the contamination was unintentional, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

WADA is currently seeking a one-to-two-year ban, leaving Sinner’s future—and the integrity of the ATP’s anti-doping program—hanging in the balance.

[Watch Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner live in the USA on Fubo]

The stage is set for a championship showdown in a tournament already defined by stunning upsets, and no storyline has been bigger than the breakout run of Jiri Lehecka, who punched his ticket to the final in dominant fashion with a commanding straight-sets win over Arthur Fils.

Now, the Czech standout steps into his toughest test yet, squaring off against red-hot Jannik Sinner, one of the sport’s elite contenders who is riding momentum after his recent triumph at Indian Wells and is chasing another Masters 1000 crown in what shapes up to be a must-watch final.

When will the Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner match be played?

Jiri Lehecka faces Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Miami Open Final this Sunday, March 29. The action will start at 3:00 PM (ET).

Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner: Time by State in the USA

ET: 3:00 PM
CT: 2:00 PM
MT: 1:00 PM
PT: 12:00 PM

How to watch Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner in the USA

Don’t miss this electrifying 2026 Miami Open clash between Jiri Lehecka and Jannik Sinner live on Fubo. Other options: Tennis Channel.

“I think Alcaraz has more tools than Sinner. Jannik is almost mechanical, executing shots with precision and power. Carlos, on the other hand, is versatile. His game poses a bigger challenge,“ Fonseca commented.

Having competed against both players, Fonseca is well-positioned to assess who presents a tougher challenge in elite tournaments, despite having faced each player only once in ATP matches.

Fonseca is quickly becoming one of the brightest prospects on the ATP circuit, alongside Alcaraz and Sinner. He has notably excelled this past season, securing titles at both the ATP 250 in Buenos Aires and the ATP 500 in Basel.

Exploring Carlos Alcaraz’s complete game

Fonseca’s assertion that Alcaraz can “do it all” is backed by evidence. When Fonseca faced Alcaraz at the Miami Open, the Spaniard immediately showcased his multifaceted skills on the court.

Alcaraz’s forehand, his signature shot, stands out in high-pressure matches, averaging a speed of around 126 km/h (78 mph) and frequently surpassing 160 km/h (100 mph).

In addition, Alcaraz’s aggressive all-court play yields an impressive 72% success rate at the net over the last year. With over an 80% success rate across all surfaces, Alcaraz continues to solidify his position as one of the ATP circuit’s premier talents.

Assessing Jannik Sinner’s game

While Fonseca described Sinner as mechanical, there are areas the Italian can refine to reach the zenith of the sport.

Sinner holds a 37.5% win rate in five-set matches, with a record of 6 wins and 10 losses. He’s notably yet to win any of his longest matches, which have all stretched beyond four hours. After a loss to Alcaraz at the 2023 US Open, Sinner acknowledged becoming “too predictable.”

Although Sinner is arguably one of the top hard-court players globally, his performances on clay indicate significant potential for improvement.

[Watch Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner live in the USA on Fubo]

The championship match of a demanding tournament is set, featuring two of the sport’s top rivals after an impressive run through the draw. World No. 2 Jannik Sinner enters the final as the clear favorite following a dominant semifinal win over Alexander Zverev, putting the Italian within reach of another career title.

Standing in his way, however, is a red-hot Daniil Medvedev, who delivered one of the biggest surprises of the tournament by knocking out Carlos Alcaraz. With both players arriving in strong form and a trophy on the line, the stage is set for a high-stakes final that could produce another dramatic upset.

When will the Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner match be played?

Daniil Medvedev take on Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Indian Wells Open final this Sunday, March 15. The action will start at 6:00 PM (ET).

Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner: Time by State in the USA

ET: 6:00 PM
CT: 5:00 PM
MT: 4:00 PM
PT: 3:00 PM

How to watch Daniil Medvedev vs Jannik Sinner in the USA

Don’t miss this electrifying 2026 Indian Wells Open clash between Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner live on Fubo. Other options: ESPN and Tennis Channel.

In line with ATP rules, top-tier tennis players attending a 250 or 500-tier event automatically receive a $1.2 million paycheck, regardless of their performance in the tournament. Thus, with both Alcaraz and Sinner having successfully completed their opening matches, they have already pocketed this significant amount.

During the first round, Sinner bested Czech player Tomas Machac in straight sets, while Alcaraz dispatched France’s Arthur Rinderknech, also in two sets. Both players are now poised in the Round of 16, eyeing a run at the Doha title.

This initial payday could expand considerably if they progress to the latter stages of the tournament. Considering the exceptional form both have demonstrated, deep runs seem entirely plausible.

Sinner and Alcaraz’s potential opponents

Now in the Round of 16, both Sinner and Alcaraz have their eyes set on advancing further. Sinner is slated to face Alexei Popyrin, while Alcaraz will confront Valentin Royer.

These matches are scheduled to take place on Wednesday. If both players continue their winning ways, a head-to-head clash between Sinner and Alcaraz would only take place in the final, as they are set on opposite paths in the draw.

This tournament not only serves as a significant opportunity for them to capture the title but also as crucial preparation for upcoming challenges. Both players will be gearing up for the remaining Grand Slam events and multiple Masters 1000 tournaments on the horizon as summer approaches.

Before finding out that Luciano Darderi would be his opponent on Sunday, Cerundolo addressed the media after his semifinal win over fellow Argentine Tomas Etcheverry (6-3, 7-5).

With Bolavip in attendance, Cerundolo was asked to build his ideal player choosing different active players at the ATP, including himself. He started by naming Jakub Mensik or Hubert Hurkacz for the serve.

Required to include himself, Cerundolo selected his forehand as his biggest strength. For the backhand, he went with Jannik Sinner. In mobility, Cerundolo opted for Alex de Minaur, while naming Carlos Alcaraz for overall play and Novak Djokovic for the return of serves.

Cerundolo chasing first Argentina Open title in year of big Grand Slam hopes

Earlier in the tournament, Cerundolo revealed his ambitious Grand Slam goals for this year after a tough 2025 where he failed to get past the third round at the Majors. He got off to a better start in 2026, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open—tied with the 2023 and 2024 French Opens as his best Grand Slam results.

But first he has to take care of business in Buenos Aires, where he’s looking to win a title that has been elusive so far. It’s a tournament where Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious in 2023, and a victory would certainly boost Cerundolo’s Grand Slam aspirations in 2026.

The first upcoming Major on the schedule is Roland Garros, and a successful ending in Argentina could give Cerundolo hope ahead of the biggest tournament played on clay.

Richard Krajicek is arguably the most successful Dutch tennis player ever. The former world No. 4 won Wimbledon in 1996, and in this exclusive interview Bolavip brings his view on some of the most interesting debates in tennis.

The state of the rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner

For more than a decade, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were competing for all the Grand Slams and had a big rivalry, but in recent years a new rivalry has appeared in tennis. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the two best players in the world and are currently sitting on the throne, which Krajicek didn’t expect to happen.

“Alcaraz and Sinner are both unbelievable players and they have an unbelievable rivalry. I certainly didn’t expect this to happen to tennis after Federer, Nadal and Djokovic. It is like a miracle,” Krajicek begins the interview with Bolavip in Rotterdam. He says he was a bit worried about what the state of tennis would be like in the new era after the Big Three.

“Of course, we still have Djokovic left. I want to say this is his last year, but with him you never know, probably he has three years left in him. But I was starting to think about what tennis is going to look like, even being a bit worried, and then these two guys arrived on the stage.”

Despite being different types of players and personalities, Krajicek enjoys watching both of them. He says: “Of course, they are very different. Alcaraz is very outgoing and has a lot of variety, whereas Sinner is more introverted and disciplined. Both of them are so popular and are playing amazing tennis, so I never expected this to happen so quickly after the Big Three.”

Krajicek explained further that Sinner, in his opinion, was better than Alcaraz last year, noting that he could just as well have won the French Open, as he had three match points before Alcaraz delivered a sensational comeback.

“Head to head Sinner is behind, but I have to say that in the middle of last year, Sinner was the better player. I mean, he basically won the French Open. I know he didn’t, but you know what I mean,” Krajicek said before explaining that he experienced a change, saying that Sinner played the US Open final completely wrong.

“But then something changed and at the US Open I think Sinner was playing the match completely wrong. He was going for way too many big shots. He was hitting so hard on his forehand and missing all the time. To me that was a sign of how much respect he has for Alcaraz.”

Alcaraz has seven Grand Slam titles, while Sinner has four, but despite this fact, Krajicek says that he considers the players to be on the same level: “For me, Alcaraz and Sinner are on the same level, but somehow I get the feeling Alcaraz is a bit ahead of him right now and Sinner is frustrated because he feels like he needs to go bigger and bigger to win points.”

The former Wimbledon champion believes Alcaraz and Sinner will keep battling each other for the major trophies, as they will constantly improve and push each other to become better players, while he also praised Alcaraz for his accomplishment of completing the career Grand Slam as the youngest player ever.

“I think it will continue to be like this all the time. At one point Alcaraz is better, then Sinner will become better and that continues happening, but in that way they can really push each other. I don’t see someone just running away with all the trophies all of a sudden.

“It was extremely important for Alcaraz to win the Australian Open because he needed those points and the way he did it was out of this world. Of course, it was amazing as well to see how he became the youngest ever to complete the Career Grand Slam. What he did physically and mentally was an amazing accomplishment.”

Federer is the greatest ever but Djokovic is the best

Many tennis fans around the world have probably already noticed that Alcaraz has multiple times in recent years changed his serve, and the most recent change came during the pre-season in 2026, where he changed his service motion in a way that is now very similar to the one Novak Djokovic has had for years, and Krajicek says that is something he particularly likes about the Spaniard.

“What I like about Alcaraz is that he is improving all the time, when he sees that he has to. He improved his serve because he had the feeling that he was chasing Sinner and needed to do that. That is very impressive to me. In that sense, he reminds me a lot of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, because they always found a way to improve and beat each other.”

Novak Djokovic has 24 Grand Slam titles, Rafael Nadal has 22 and Roger Federer has 20, but Krajicek believes that both Alcaraz and Sinner have the potential to beat Djokovic’s Grand Slam record. However, there is a small question in terms of longevity that they still have to prove.

“Both of them have the potential to beat Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam record, but the big question is whether they will have careers that last 15 years or longer. That is the only question, because level-wise and mentality-wise they are both able to do it. In my opinion, they are at that level. But the special thing with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal was that they all played more than 15 years at the top, and we don’t know if they are able to do that.”

One of the debates that always comes up in tennis is who the Greatest Of All Time is. Arguably, Djokovic has already closed this debate with his numbers, and some people are even calling him the greatest athlete of all time. However, Krajicek believes that the debate is not only about numbers when speaking about the greatest player.

“I was talking to a friend of mine and we discussed who the greatest and the best athlete of all time is. I think there is a big difference between being the greatest and the best. If we just talk about tennis, to be the greatest is something extra. That is about what somebody meant for the game and for me the greatest tennis player of all time is Roger Federer.”

“What he has done for the game and his popularity say it all, but the best tennis player in history is Novak Djokovic. Without a doubt, I actually think that debate is very clear,” Krajicek says on the GOAT debate.

Rune can come back and win Grand Slams

One of the players who was expected to compete for a top spot in the rankings and Grand Slams was Danish player Holger Rune, but he has yet to do either, and currently he is out with a serious injury, as he tore his Achilles tendon last year in October. Krajicek himself was sidelined for 20 months in the later stages of his career, and the Dutchman has a few pieces of advice for the Dane.

“Maybe my advice would be to stay patient. The biggest mistake I made after being sidelined for 20 months following my elbow surgery was that I came back too quickly. I should have waited at least one more year, at least until I was fully fit. If I could go back in time, I would change it. The stop and start is not good physically or mentally.”

“Mentally I was struggling a lot, because these injuries are horrible. It is better to break something, because then you can take three or six months off, then it will be healed and everything is okay. He has to listen to the doctors and not rush back to the court. Mentally, going back to zero again is the toughest part, so he needs to be 100 percent fit when coming back.”

Krajicek underlined that you lose more than you win by rushing a comeback. He has to trust his body and be 100 percent sure everything is working again. Again, he needs to be patient, maybe even take two months longer than needed, because you lose much more than you win by speeding up the process.

Rune has multiple times explicitly said that he has very good doctors around him and that people should not be worried about him rushing a comeback. He is currently doing his rehab at the Aspetar Hospital in Qatar after having had his surgery and parts of his rehabilitation in Denmark. The surgery was done by the famous Danish doctor Morten Boesen.

Krajicek was clear when speaking about what to expect from Rune when he returns to tennis: “It is not going to be any problem at all for him to come back into the top five and win Grand Slams. He has the level and of course it will take a little bit of time, but Holger is an incredibly hard worker, so for me that is not a problem for him at all.”

The Dutchman is clearly impressed with Rune. However, he can recognize what the Dane has said prior to his injury about him not always being sure about his shot selection, as he has so many shots to choose from due to his qualities as a player.

“Holger always has a lot of options on the court because of his amazing level, especially on the backhand side. You never know if he will go crosscourt, hit it hard down the line, make a dropshot or something else. Sometimes that can be difficult as a very talented player, because when you are able to hit so many shots, the decision making can be hard.

“That is definitely something he has to work on, but he will manage. It was simple for me, because I did not have as many qualities. I just had to serve and come to the net,” Krajicek said before giving Rune one last advice:

“I actually have one piece of advice for him, which might be the most important one. During his injury, he has to watch a lot of tennis. I know he might suffer doing it, but he has to watch a lot of videos, especially of himself, Alcaraz and Sinner. He needs to analyze what they are doing and how he can do it.”

“This is not about technique, because he is already so technically gifted, but it is about strategy on the court. That helped me a lot mentally. I was trying to visualise myself doing what they did,” Krajicek concludes the interview with Bolavip.

Whether Rune will come back and compete with Alcaraz and Sinner, only time will tell, but one thing is sure. Krajicek believes in him and he believes that the current state of tennis is very good, with especially Alcaraz and Sinner on top at the moment.

[Watch Luciano Darderi vs Jannik Sinner live in the USA on Fubo]

Jannik Sinner has powered through the early rounds of the Australian Open, dropping just one set in three matches and looking every bit like a legitimate title favorite. That smooth run will be tested by his compatriot Luciano Darderi.

Darieri comes in with confidence after a strong showing that included a third-round victory over Karen Khachanov, setting up an all-Italian matchup where the underdog will aim to push Sinner out of his comfort zone.

When will the Luciano Darderi vs Jannik Sinner match be played?

Luciano Darderi faces Jannik Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open fourth round this Monday, January 26. The action will start at 2:00 AM (ET).

Luciano Darderi vs Jannik Sinner: Time by State in the USA

ET: 2:00 AM
CT: 1:00 AM
MT: 12:00 AM
PT: 11:00 PM (January 25)

How to watch Luciano Darderi vs Jannik Sinner in the USA

Don’t miss this electrifying 2026 Australian Open clash between Luciano Darderi and Jannik Sinner live on Fubo. Other options: ESPN and Tennis Channel.

In an extensive interview with Spanish outlet Diario AS, the most successful player in the history of Roland Garros weighed in on the ATP’s top two stars, detailing the fundamental differences that define their games.

“Carlos is more random, he makes more errors, but he hits more spectacular shots,” Nadal explained. “He doesn’t have such a defined pattern of play, which makes him unpredictable, and that is fun for the spectator. Jannik is more methodical, focused, and has a very defined pattern. He is a incredibly solid player who almost never loses a match”.

Despite the contrast, Nadal was quick to defend his compatriot Alcaraz against critics who label him as “scattered” due to his high-risk style. “It makes me laugh when I hear that Carlos is scattered,” Nadal added. “When you look at the results, he has had an incredibly consistent and solid year in all the major tournaments. The results say the opposite”.

Who finished the year better?

The 2025 season has been a tug-of-war between the two young icons. While Sinner held the world No. 1 ranking for the majority of the year, Alcaraz will officially close out 2025 as the year-end No. 1. The Spaniard finished with 12,050 points, narrowly edging out Sinner’s 11,500.

Nadal on coaching: ‘Not right now’

Since his retirement in late 2024, rumors have swirled regarding Nadal’s potential transition to coaching—specifically a “super coach” role with Alcaraz. However, the King of Clay is putting those rumors to rest for now.

“I don’t see myself traveling continuously right now,” Nadal said, citing his young family as a priority. “Being a coach would require that, and it doesn’t fit my life at the moment”.

He did, however, leave one door slightly ajar: “Being Davis Cup captain? Why not? It’s something I might enjoy. But I’ve just retired; it’s too premature to be thinking about all these things. I want to respect the process of adapting to a new life”.