Five Big Withdrawals Shake Up Monte Carlo as Norrie Trains With Nishikori

The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters opens a week of clay-court drama with a thinning top end of the draw, after five notable withdrawals reshuffled expectations and practice-court dynamics in Monaco.

The withdrawal wave

Arthur Fils became the fifth high-ranked name to pull out of Monte Carlo, opting for patience while recovering from a back injury that cost him much of 2025 and a chunk of the rhythm that builds into clay season.

Jack Draper also withdrew, still managing an arm issue that forced him out mid-match at the US Open last year; his absence reshuffles the British pecking order and removes a serve-heavy threat from the slow courts of Monaco.

Novak Djokovic is out with a shoulder issue, while Americans Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda also opted out, Fritz battling a chronic knee problem that has nagged since the start of the season and limited his movement.

The spate of pullouts revives the familiar debate about player scheduling; the season is long, travel is relentless, and top players must balance contract freedom with the reality of ranking points and commercial expectations at Masters 1000 events.

My Tennis Expert believes fans grumble, tournament directors fume, and the players make the smart medical call; modern tennis rewards longevity, not bravado, and skipping a week can be sensible versus risking a season-ending setback.

Norrie, Nishikori and the practice court politics

Cameron Norrie arrived in Monte Carlo off a confidence-boosting Miami run that included a win over Alex de Minaur, and he has shifted his preparation from hard court speed to clay court patience with intent.

Norrie has been hitting with Kei Nishikori in Monaco, the former top-five player now working back up the rankings after injuries; Nishikori looked sharp in practice, the sort of steady, technical presence clay specialists appreciate.

Norrie also shared a snap of himself hitting with Daniil Medvedev, who has been in good form this year; those practice sessions may not be official coaching swaps, but they are meaningful tuneups against different styles.

With Jack Draper out, Norrie sits a slim 43 points clear of the British number one spot, a gap he can defend or widen in Monte Carlo given he is not defending points at this event coming off 2025.

Federer’s Monte Carlo ghost and what it tells us

Roger Federer played Monte Carlo 13 times and never lifted the trophy, a quirk in an otherwise glittering resume that says as much about Nadalâs clay monopoly as it does about scheduling choices and styles.

Federer accumulated 30 match wins at the event without converting them into a title; it is a strangely proud stat, the sort of thing you keep if you like being historically interesting but slightly tormented.

He reached four finals in Monte Carlo, losing three to Rafael Nadal between 2006 and 2008, and once to Stan Wawrinka in 2014, the latter proving that on clay you can be good and still come up against other very good specialists.

The present tournament still offers marquee storylines despite the absences: Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion when fit, Jannik Sinner has massive upside because he is not defending points here, and younger names will taste opportunity.

Monte Carlo begins April 4, 2026, and with a thinner but still dangerous field the event promises unexpected long rallies, sneaky tactical switches, and the occasional upset that sends a junior coach smiling into the night.