Jannik Sinner enjoys the odd doubles link-up and looks set to join forces with Belgian tennis star Zizou Bergs at the upcoming Monte Carlo Masters. The world No. 2 recently entered Indian Wells with Reilly Opelka, with whom he won the 2021 Atlanta Open. And he’s also teamed up with the likes of Lorenzo Sonego and Jack Draper in recent years.

Now, world No. 46 Bergs looks set to join Sinner on the same side of the net after impressing the Italian during a recent practice session. Sinner and Bergs’ partnership caught attention when the Monte Carlo doubles entry list was unveiled, and the Belgian ace’s father, Koen, has now explained how it came to be.

“Zizou and Jannik played against each other for the first time at the Masters 1000 in Paris last year. This year, they trained together in Indian Wells, and after that, Jannik asked him to play doubles together in Monte Carlo,” Bergs’ dad told Ubitennis.

“Zizou would never have dared to ask Sinner, so he was quite surprised. I think Jannik likes Zizou’s attitude and personality.”

However, Bergs and his dad are well aware that Sinner may well leave them high and dry at the last minute. The world No. 2 has just completed the Sunshine Double, winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back, and he did it without dropping a set.

And Koen has revealed that there are doubts over Sinner’s participation in the Monte Carlo Masters, especially in the doubles draw. The Italian has a prime opportunity to gain some extra ranking points, as he couldn’t play in Monaco last year while serving a three-month suspension. Even if he remains in the singles event, the Bergs know Sinner may have to sacrifice doubles.

Koen added: “We know very well that Jannik will decide whether to actually play the doubles or not. He just won the Sunshine Double, so it’s possible that he wants to rest a bit. On the other hand, he could gain a lot of points since he didn’t participate last year. Let’s wait and see.”

After winning the Miami Open over the weekend, Sinner explained that he didn’t have long to turn his attention to the clay swing. “For me, now the most important [thing] is to recover, enjoy this moment, and I don’t have a lot of time to adjust, playing on clay, if I want to play Monaco, so let’s see,” he said.