Struff Falls Early in 2026 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Qualifying
The clay-court season in Monaco has delivered an early shock for German tennis fans. Jan-Lennard Struff has been eliminated from the 2026 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters before even reaching the main draw, falling in the qualifying first round on Saturday.
Struff’s campaign ended abruptly in a straight-sets defeat to Nikoloz Basilashvili. The result marks a disappointing start to the tournament for the German, who struggled to locate his rhythm against Basilashvili, who claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory to advance toward the qualifying finals.
For many followers of the ATP Tour, Struff’s exit is a significant blow to the German contingent’s presence in the early stages of the event. While Basilashvili moves forward, Struff is left to reflect on a brief stay in Monte-Carlo.
Alcaraz Returns as Defending Champion
While the qualifying rounds provide the drama of survival, the spotlight remains firmly on Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard enters the 2026 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters as the defending champion, having captured the title in 2025 by defeating Lorenzo Musetti 3–6, 6–1, 6–0 in a comeback final.
Alcaraz’s victory last year marked his sixth Masters 1000 title and his 18th career ATP Tour title, cementing his dominance on the red clay. As the tournament transitions from the qualifying stages to the main draw, Alcaraz will be the man to beat in Monaco.
Main Draw Preview: Altmaier vs. Machac
Despite Struff’s exit, German interest remains high with Daniel Altmaier set to compete in the Round of 64. Altmaier, currently ranked No. 52 in the world, will face No. 55-ranked Tomas Machac on Sunday, April 5.
The matchup presents a clash of contrasting recent forms on clay. Altmaier enters the contest with a 12-9 record on the surface over the past year. While he has yet to secure a tournament victory in that span, his service game has been reliable, winning 71.9% of his service games. However, he is coming off a quarterfinal loss at the Tiriac Open on April 3, where he fell to No. 47 Fabian Marozsan in straight sets (2-6, 6-7).
Tomas Machac has struggled more significantly on clay, posting a 2-6 record through six tournaments over the last 12 months. His service game is less dominant than Altmaier’s, with a 60.8% winning percentage. Machac’s most recent outing at the Grand Prix Hassan II ended on April 2 in a Round of 16 loss to Rafael Jodar (4-6, 6-4, 3-6).
Given the current form and surface statistics, Altmaier enters the match as the favorite, though Machac’s ranking proximity suggests a competitive battle in the early rounds.
Qualifying Finalists and Round 1 Outlook
As the tournament progresses, several players have fought through the opening qualifying rounds to secure a spot in the final qualifying matches scheduled for April 5. Notable matchups include:
- Nikoloz Basilashvili vs. Cristian Garin
- Juan Manuel Cerundolo vs. Pedro Martinez
- David Goffin vs. Emilio Nava
- Matteo Arnaldi vs. Alexandre Muller
- Ethan Quinn vs. Francisco Comesana
- Alexander Shevchenko vs. Roberto Bautista Agut
- Damir Dzumhur vs. Alexander Blockx
The main draw action officially kicks off on April 5, with early matchups featuring Cameron Norrie taking on Miomir Kecmanovic and Marton Fucsovics facing Alejandro Tabilo. Tabilo carries significant momentum into this event, having famously defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round of the 2025 edition.
For those tracking the tournament, the 2026 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters continues through April 12 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
Next Checkpoint: The Round of 64 begins Sunday, April 5, featuring the Altmaier vs. Machac clash and the conclusion of the qualifying finals.
Do you believe Daniel Altmaier can capitalize on his clay-court stats to advance? Let us know your predictions in the comments.
