Jannik Sinner surprised many fans on Thursday when he pulled out of the doubles event at the 2026 Monte-Carlo Masters. He was supposed to play the Round of 16 match with Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, but the pair did not take the court. The update first came from Bergs’ father, Koen Bergs, who shared the news on X. The timing of this decision is important. Sinner is very close to becoming the World No. 1, and a strong run in Monte Carlo could help him move past Carlos Alcaraz. So, stepping away from doubles looks like a clear choice to stay fresh for singles matches.Before withdrawing, Sinner and Bergs had already made a strong start. They won their opening doubles match against Casper Ruud and Tomas Machac without much trouble. The duo looked comfortable together, which made the sudden withdrawal even more surprising for fans following the tournament.
Koen Bergs reacts as Jannik Sinner withdraws, calls it understandable amid World No. 1 race with Carlos Alcaraz
Koen Bergs did not hide his thoughts after the news became official. He explained that while it was disappointing, the decision made sense given what is at stake for Jannik Sinner.He wrote on X, “It is official now. No doubles R2 for Zizou and Jannik. Jannik withdraws from the doubles draw. Understandable since he can become N1 in this tournament. Nevertheless, great experience for Zizou which will never be forgotten.”His message shows two sides of the moment. On one hand, there is disappointment because the pair had momentum. On the other, there is pride because playing alongside a top player like Sinner is a big moment in Zizou Bergs’ career.Right now, Sinner’s focus is clearly on singles. If he wins the title here, he has a real chance to take over the top ranking from Carlos Alcaraz. That bigger goal seems to be guiding his decisions this week.
Jannik Sinner and Zizou Bergs shine in singles draw, set up key Round of 16 matches in Monte Carlo
Even though the doubles run has ended, both players are still doing well in singles. Jannik Sinner, currently World No. 2, played a strong match against Ugo Humbert and won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.After the match, Sinner spoke honestly about the challenge of switching to clay courts. He said, “It was a good performance from my side. You have to change your game style a little bit, how you approach certain situations… The first tournament [on clay] is never easy. I come here with good feelings, but, at the same time, not many expectations.” Zizou Bergs has also impressed. He beat Adrian Mannarino and then pulled off a big win against Andrey Rublev. Now, he faces a tough test against Alexander Zverev in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Sinner will take on Tomas Machac as he continues his push for the title and possibly the No. 1 spot.
