Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz produced a resilient comeback on Sunday to defeat Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 in the doubles final of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, securing their first title of the 2026 season and their second ATP Masters 1000 trophy overall.
The sixth-seeded German pair dropped the opening set but dominated the second before prevailing in a tense match tie-break on the iconic clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club. The victory marks their second Masters 1000 crown following their breakthrough win at the 2025 Shanghai Masters on hard courts.
Krawietz and Puetz entered the final as underdogs in terms of recent form, with neither pair having lifted a title in 2026 prior to this week. They had shown strong resolve throughout the tournament, notably overcoming local favourites Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vassalin in a dramatic semi-final match tie-break.
In the final, Arevalo and Pavic – the fifth seeds – started brightly, breaking early to take the first set 6-4. However, the Germans regrouped effectively, breaking twice in the second set to level the match at one set apiece with a comfortable 6-2 scoreline.
The decisive super tie-break proved to be a rollercoaster. Arevalo/Pavic built a lead, but Krawietz and Puetz stayed composed, reeling off crucial points on return to turn the momentum in their favour. They eventually closed out the 10-8 victory after one hour and 48 minutes of high-quality doubles tennis.
“This means a lot to us,” Puetz said after the match. “Monte Carlo is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar, and winning here on clay feels special. We fought hard all week and stayed positive when things weren’t going our way.”
The win boosts Krawietz and Puetz’s standing in the doubles race and adds another prestigious title to their growing resume as one of the most reliable teams on the ATP Tour. For Arevalo and Pavic, it was a disappointing end to a strong run in Monaco, where they had reached the final without dropping a set until the championship match.
With the European clay swing now in full flow, Krawietz and Puetz will look to carry this momentum into the upcoming Madrid and Rome Masters events.
