The Monte-Carlo Masters tennis tournament is the first of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. The highlight of the clay-court season is the French Open Grand Slam in Paris (all bets on French Open).

The Monegasque tournament is a favourite among players, the majority of whom reside there. In addition to bettors and fans, the Monte-Carlo Country Club is popular because of its beautiful location. The clay courts are suoerbly laid out on terraces overlooking the sea. Make tennis bets with bwin.

Betting on clay courts

The clay-court season, which runs from April to June, consists of three months of relentless grinding on the ochre, presenting an extremely demanding physical challenge. The best tennis players must master many techniques including controlled skids.

Clay makes play slower than hard courts. Tennis bettors cannot expect a better return of serve game on clay. Balls bounce more slowly than on any solid surface.

For this reason, the clay-court takes away many advantages from players with a big serve. It makes it difficult for players who have a strong serve and volley game and who want to finish points quickly.

This court surface generally favours baseline players who hit groundstrokes with strong topspin. The clay surface also benefits all-around tennis players and those with a strong defensive game style.

Recommended bets on Monte Carlo

Medvedev and Rafael Nadal won't be playing in the Monte Carlo Masters, so one player who could cause problems for Djokovic — winner in 2013 and 2015 — is young Spaniard, Carlos Alcaraz. The 18-year-old Spaniard aspires to enter the "top 10" in the world after his title at the Masters 1000 in Miami.

Novak Djokovic holds the record for most titles in singles with 37 since the Masters Series began in 1990. Every win for the Serbian in an ATP 1000 tournament makes him a little more of a legend.

It is always wise to look at the previous winner when wondering what to expect from a tennis tournament. During the matches, bettors also have the opportunity to place live bets.