Carlos Alcaraz admitted he was surprised to see Jannik Sinner turn up for the Monte Carlo Masters after going the distance at the Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has lauded the fitness of Sinner, saying: “Honestly, I was surprised that Jannik, after Indian Wells, Miami and the whole tour, came to Monte Carlo to play, but obviously that speaks to the great physical condition he is in right now, what he is capable of.

“Hopefully, we can play here in Monte Carlo, who knows? But obviously we have not played together yet this year and I hope that happens on this clay court tour.”

Before the Spaniard admitted: “I miss clay every time that the clay season is over. I just miss it. It has been a long time since Roland Garros, and I just have not touched clay. The first practices that I got, I just said to my team, ‘It is time to get to the dirty socks again.”