Anticipation is building for the 2026 ATP Fantasy season, which debuts this weekend alongside the Monte-Carlo Masters. Former World No. 3 and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem is offering early guidance to help fans approach the new game.
Understanding ATP Fantasy Strategy
ATP Fantasy lets fans act as team managers, choosing a roster of ATP players each week and scoring points based on actual match results. Managers must work within a credit budget, blending top-tier contenders with lower-cost options and adjusting selections from one tournament to the next. A key feature is the Bonus Ball pick, which earns double points.
Scoring goes beyond wins. Aces contribute extra points, and straight-sets victories bring additional bonuses. That makes recent form, surface preference, and player tendencies especially important during the clay swing.
Thiem plans to share his thinking throughout the season, providing a player’s perspective on weekly strategy. He views one of the two highest-ranked players, Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, as close to essential picks given their title chances. He also weighs past Monte-Carlo results when assessing clay-court specialists. He initially considered Alejandro Davidovich Fokina as a budget choice after the Spaniard’s previous run to the final, but removed him following the player’s withdrawal. Alexander Zverev features in his lineup in part because consistent serving can deliver steady ace points. His early selections also include Luciano Darderi and Jack Draper, with Francisco Cerundolo and Tomas Martin Etcheverry in reserve. He is waiting on outcomes in Marrakech, Houston, and Bucharest before finalizing his squad.
With the first clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season starting Sunday in Monte-Carlo, the new fantasy game adds another layer of intrigue to the spring calendar, and Thiem’s approach offers fans a practical blueprint to get started. By following his insights and keeping an eye on player performances, fantasy enthusiasts can enhance their chances of success in the 2026 ATP Fantasy season.