It’s not just the red clay that’s warm at this year’s Monte Carlo Masters – there’s a glow of brotherly love radiating from the tennis tournament. While top seeds sweat it out beneath the (fairly cool) Mediterranean sun, it’s a couple of brotherly bonds on the ATP tour that have been stealing some of the spotlight, and the hearts of the crowd.
Marko and Novak Djokovic
First up, Serbian legend Novak Djokovic, ever the enigmatic champion (to watch him live is to witness laser-sharp focus in motion), revealed in a pre-tournament interview that it is his younger brother Marko who is at his side this week – on coaching duty and to provide emotional support.
Andy Murray isn’t in the box this week. “It was never part of the agreement,” Djokovic said. He’ll be back when the tour heads to Madrid later this month.
Instead, for this – his 18th Monte Carlo Masters – Novak said “my brother Marko is here in the role of tennis coach and emotional support as a brother”. Djokovic said he thought about who he wanted apart from his fitness coach and physio, and “my brother was able to join me so that helps me on a different level emotionally. Have some time with my brother and spend some time with him on the road.”
Marko was once a pro tennis player himself, reaching 574th spot by 2019 when he retired. That’s also the year he and Novak teamed up in the Monte Carlo Masters as a short-lived wildcard entry for the doubles competition.
WATCH Petros and Stefano Tsitsipas Chest-Bump
Speaking of doubles teams, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and his younger brother Petros lit up the court yesterday in their doubles’ win – and punctuated their victory with a chest bump so exuberant, it went viral on social media. Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters posted the video entitled “Winning Together As Brothers ❤️” with a caption saying “Wholesome moments as Stefanos & Petros Tsitsipas win their opening round together in Monte-Carlo…” Watch here:
The Tsitsipas brothers, often seen practicing together but less often victorious on the doubles stage, played with the kind of joyful energy that suggests something deeper than ranking points is at stake. For defending champion Stefanos, playing with his brother is a chance to stay grounded. “When I’m with Petros, I remember why I started playing tennis,” he has said in past interviews. That showed yesterday – the on-court chemistry, the laughter, the almost boyish celebration.
In a tournament where super yachts bob in the harbour and Ferraris purr through the streets, it’s easy to forget that even the world’s top athletes crave connection. But this week in Monte Carlo, it’s clear: behind the cool exteriors and killer forehands, sometimes the most powerful doubles partner – or court-side confidante – is the one who has known you since you were hitting balls in the backyard.
Djokovic and Tsitsipas’s next matches at Monte Carlo Masters
Tsitsipas will start defending his singles title against Laslo Djere on Tuesday (8 April).
Djokovic’s first match is set for Wednesday (9 April) against Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who today beat Stan Wawrinka in an epic match: 1-6, 7-5, 7-5.
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Watch the live qualifying stream from the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2025 below. Defending champion, Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas – who lives in Monaco – was present on Friday to assist in the singles main draw for the competition. He predicted it’s going to be a “tough week ahead”.
WATCH VIDEO: Novak Djokovic on choosing his brother as coach for Monte-Carlo Masters
View the full schedule for today here:
https://montecarlotennismasters.com/en/tournament/todays-program/
Where to watch the Monte-Carlo Tennis Masters on TV
You can follow the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters throughout the tournament on Eurosport, one match a day on france.tv platform and the Final on France 4.
Streaming
Tennis TV is the official streaming service of the ATP Tour.
