Another high-profile withdrawal has hit the Monte-Carlo Masters, with Arthur Fils recently opting out. His decision adds to a growing list of absentees, including Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, and Jack Draper, who have all withdrawn in recent days. In addition, players such as Ben Shelton and Holger Rune were already absent from the entry list released last month.
Arthur Fils Joins Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz as Latest Monte-Carlo Withdrawals
Concerns have mounted in the lead-up to the tournament following a series of high-profile withdrawals that have steadily thinned the field. Djokovic has yet to fully recover from the shoulder injury that not only derailed his Miami Open campaign but also forced him to withdraw from the Monte-Carlo Masters last week.
The Serb has since been replaced in the draw by Sebastián Báez. With Djokovic limiting his appearances on tour of late, uncertainty continues to surround the timing of his return.
Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz also pulled out of the event last week to manage a lingering knee issue that has troubled him for some time. French youngster Térence Atmane will take Fritz’s place in the main draw.
Jack Draper, who was sidelined for six months with an arm injury, made his return to the tour in Dubai in February. However, as a precaution, the Briton has opted to skip the Monte-Carlo Masters, with Daniel Altmaier stepping in as his replacement.
Elsewhere, American star Sebastian Korda has also withdrawn from the event, with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard taking his place in the draw. Moreover, Jaume Munar and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are also among the notable players to have pulled out.
Another significant setback followed as Arthur Fils, one of the higher-ranked players, also withdrew from the Monte-Carlo Masters. The world No. 28 and last year’s quarterfinalist had returned from a back injury earlier in February and was showing solid form, finishing runner-up in Doha, reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, and advancing to the semifinals in Miami.
“Back on the tour for a few weeks now, still a long way to go but the motivation is there! We’ve decided not to play the 2026 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters to properly prepare for the rest of the clay season. See you very soon,” he shared on his Instagram story.
Why Ben Shelton and Other Americans Are Skipping the Monte-Carlo Masters
The Monte-Carlo Masters remains the only non-mandatory Masters 1000 event, meaning players can skip it without penalty and won’t appear on the entry list unless they opt in.
MORE: Monte-Carlo Masters Draw Date, How To Watch, Prize Money, Top Seeds, Including Carlos Alcaraz
Several prominent American names had already opted not to enter, including Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, Jenson Brooksby, Brandon Nakashima, and Alex Michelsen. Additionally, world No. 29 Holger Rune remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, making him another major absentee from the tournament.
The first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season is set to run from April 5 to 12 at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. The field is headlined by defending champion and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, alongside world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, the previous year’s runner-up Lorenzo Musetti, and Daniil Medvedev, among others.
