Over the course of the Monte Carlo Masters’ 120-year history, only five American men have won the title.
Hugh Stewart was the last American man to win the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating compatriot Tony Vincent in the 1956 final: 1–6, 8–6, 6–0, 6–2.
Bill Tilden, a 10-time Grand Slam champion, was an icon of the 1930s; and an individual who also captured the Monte Carlo title after defeating Bunny Austin in the 1930 final.
Who will win the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters?
Vote now!
American Frank Parker also won the title in 1949; and two years later, former world number four Straight Clark became the fourth player to do so.
With all that being said, who was the first American man to win the Monte Carlo title?
Fred Alexander was the first American to win the Monte Carlo Masters
Fred Alexander was the first to do so in 1909, beating Great Britain’s Laurence Doherty 7–5, 6–4, 6–1 in the final.
Alexander, the first non-Australian player to win the Australian Open, went on to capture eight Grand Slam titles – seven of which were in doubles.
Alexander [pictured below, centre], who achieved a career-high singles ranking of world number seven, was also a Davis Cup finalist in 1908.
Around 11 years after Alexander’s triumph in Monaco, the American retired from his playing career.
Despite paving the way for future American success at the event, the nation has severely underperformed at the Monte Carlo Masters since Hugh Stewart’s victory in 1956.
Only six American players have reached the Monte Carlo final since Stewart’s triumph: Budge Patty, Vitas Gerulaitis, Jimmy Connors, Mel Purcell, Jimmy Arias and Aaron Krickstein.
Krickstein was the last to do so in 1992, losing to French Open champion Thomas Muster in the final.
It is also worth noting that Jimmy Connors was not allowed the opportunity to win the 1981 title after the championship showpiece, scheduled to be contested by Connors and Guillermo Vilas, was abandoned due to rain.
The 1981 final remains the only instance of final abandonment in Monte Carlo Masters history.
Last five Monte Carlo Masters Champions
- 2025: Carlos Alcaraz
- 2024: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2023: Andrey Rublev
- 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas
Who is America’s best hope at the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters?
Unfortunately for American tennis fans, it seems unlikely that the 70-year drought will come to an end at this year’s event.
The nation’s eight highest-ranked players on the ATP Tour – Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, Alex Michelsen, Brandon Nakashima and Sebastian Korda – are not competing in Monaco.
In fact, only two American players are present in the draw: world number 54 Ethan Quinn [pictured below], and world number 103 Emilio Nava.
Quinn, a lucky loser in Monte Carlo, is scheduled to play Cincinnati Open semi-finalist Terence Atmane in the first round on Tuesday.
Nava, who had beaten Quentin Halys and David Goffin, lost to 11th seed Jiri Lehecka, 6-7, 7-6, 2-6 in the first round of the main draw.
