Sinner and Bergs Shine in Star-Studded Monte‑Carlo Doubles Opener

Jannik Sinner and Zizou Bergs turned a doubles curtain-raiser into the feel-good highlight of Sunday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, beating Tomas Machac and Casper Ruud in straight sets on Court Rainier III.

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters · R1 · 2026 Sinner and Bergs get the job done in a packed, singles-heavy doubles opener

Player	Set 1	Set 2
Jannik Sinner / Zizou Bergs (ITA/BEL)	6	7
Casper Ruud / Tomas Machac (NOR/CZE)	4	5

Sinner Shows Doubles Spark

Sinner and Bergs played like two colleagues who decided to have a bit of fun and then forgot to tell the opposition. Their 6-4, 7-5 victory was tidy, composed and sprinkled with a couple of cheeky winners.

The numbers tell a clear story: Sinner and Bergs delivered eight aces and converted four of nine break points, edging the match in crucial moments. The contest clocked 83 minutes, long enough for clay-court drama but short enough to stay fresh for singles.

Sinner celebrated with Bergs, clasping hands and pointing to the sky in a shot that will run on the loop feed. It was the sort of crowd-pleasing image tournaments hope for when top singles names dip into the doubles draw.

My Tennis Expert believes these doubles outings do more than give fans a novelty act; they sharpen returns, net instincts and timing, all useful for the grueling clay swing.

A Draw Full of Singles Stars

Monte-Carlo doubles reads like a singles field list with a net attached, and organizers should feel smug about the lineup. Alexander Zverev teams with Marcelo Melo after their Acapulco success, creating a legitimate threat and a headline act of its own.

Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie draw wild-card Italians Matteo Berrettini and Andrea Vavassori, which should be delicious viewing; heavy hitting meets crafty net play and an Italian crowd that knows how to make noise.

There are heavyweight singles pairings sprinkled through the draw: Jiri Lehecka with Jakub Mensik face Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov in a match that promises cannonball groundstrokes and tense doubles tactics.

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, seeded second, sit on the other side of the draw and will test themselves against established teams like Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul or the Austrian pair Erler and Miedler.

Local and French interest gets a boost too, with Valentin Vacherot partnering Arthur Rinderknech against fifth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, while Romain Arneodo, last year’s home champ, teams with Pierre-Hugues Herbert for local flavor.

Guinard pairs with Guido Andreozzi and they open against Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas, a matchup that blends doubles craft with singles pedigree; the Tsitsipas brothers are unpredictable and fun to watch at the net.

What To Watch Next

Sinner and Bergs move on to a second-round date with either the Tsitsipas brothers or the seeded Andreozzi-Guinard team, and the matchup will show whether Sunday’s result was a flash of flair or the start of a serious run.

Keep an eye on Zverev and Melo, who bring Acapulco momentum and big-serving templates that can bully doubles returners on clay. If they click, the Principality could see more deep runs by top singles names who decide to make doubles relevant again.

For anyone with a soft spot for doubles, Monte-Carlo is offering a delicious reminder: the format can be competitive, creative and habit-forming. Bring sunscreen, bring patience for the long rallies, and enjoy the anomaly of top singles players wielding volleys with real intent.