Jannik Sinner demolished Ugo Humbert 6‑3 6‑0 in just 64 minutes, marking his 36th straight Masters 1000 set win at the Monte Carlo Masters. The Italian’s rapid victory keeps him on course to overtake Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings if he reaches the final.

Alcaraz, the defending champion, opened his clay swing with a 6‑1 6‑3 rout of Sebastian Baez, preserving his 22‑1 clay record. The Spaniard admitted the battle for the top spot is heating up, noting he will focus on his performance rather than the ranking.

Sinner faces Francisco Cerundolo next; Alcaraz will play either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Terence Atmane. With no points to defend until the Italian Open, Sinner’s path to the top hinges on a deep run in Monte Carlo.

The gap between the two narrows to 1,190 points, making every match in the European swing critical. The outcome will dictate the early‑season hierarchy on clay.