The Monte-Carlo (Monaco)
tournament is a men’s tennis tournament played on clay, it is part of the ATP
World Tour Masters 1000 category of events, organised by the ATP with
nine tournaments which have been taking place since 1990 in Europe, North America
and Asia.
The Exceptional Tennis Tournament
This is how it was that in 1897, the first tennis tournament in Monegasque history
took place in the Principality. At the time, the space was called the Monaco Lawn
Tennis. From the outset, the tournament included men and women in two categories.
There were open, doubles and handicap tournaments. The first years, in fact,
were dominated by the Doherty brothers, two Britons who had excelled at
Wimbledon.
Until 1905, then, the tournament was played behind the Hotel de Paris before
moving, in 1906, to la Condamine, the first year that the men’s draw exceeded
16 entries with 18 players. In 1919, only a few months after the armistice of
11 November, 1918, everything started again. 1914 also marked the first entry by
one Suzanne Lenglen, the English woman who largely dominated exchanges on the
ochre courts of the Principality between 1919 and 1926. This period also marked
the participation of the King of Sweden, Gustave V, under the pseudonym of
Mister G. Indeed, he played many mixed doubles with Suzanne Lenglen. At the
start of the 20s, the tournament relocated to the roof of Auto-Rivera, a garage
in Beausoleil. This would be its penultimate move. It was with the arrival of George
Butler, an American who had made his fortune in cigarettes, that a major step
would be taken. A tennis fanatic, George Butler campaigned for a long time
with the Société des Bains de Mer for the construction of a large-scale tennis facility,
which would thus be in line with the Principality’s image. His wish was
fulfilled with the inauguration of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, 27 February,
1928. Seeing the MCCC facilities nowadays, the development jumps out at
you. The area itself has also changed a great deal. Now with a basement sports
hall, changing rooms for professionals, as well as three courts more than at
the beginning, the MCCC provides improved facilities for its champions as well
as the public every year. For in the not so distant past, it was the MCCC members
who lent their changing rooms to the players.
The Open Era
At the advent of the Open era in 1969, professional players took part
and the tournament was among the top events. Nowadays it is part of the Masters
1000. In 2007, during a re-organisation of the ATP World Tour, the status of
the tournament was under threat. Supported by the players, the organisers took
the ATP to court and the tournament retained its “Masters 1000” status. Unlike
other tournaments in this category, the thirty top players in the world are not
required to take part, although the majority of them choose to enter.
The women’s tournament was organised in the 1960s and 1970s. Its last edition
was 1982.
The Monte-Carlo Masters brings together 56 players in a straight elimination
draw of six rounds. There are 16 seeds in the 56 players, the top eight having
a bye in the first round. Furthermore, four players take part in the
tournament by invitation (or wild card). Finally, a qualifying tournament,
which takes place just before the Monte-Carlo Masters, allows seven players to
join the main draw.
The matches are played to the best of three sets with a tie-break in
each set. Until 2006, the final was the best of five sets.
As for the doubles tournament, it is contested by 24 teams, or 48 players, in a
straight elimination tournament of five rounds. The teams include the top eight
seeds who have a first-round bye. Two teams are invited by the tournament and
there is no qualifying tournament. Matches are also played as the best of three
sets with a tie-break in each set. Since 2006, the third set has been replaced
by a super tie-break.
The Rolex Monte Carlo Masters is:
- One of the most prestigious tennis tournaments on the men’s circuit
- The 1st major tournament of the European season
- An exceptional field, featuring the world’s best players every year
- 2 numbered main courts, 3 annexe courts with unreserved spectator galleries and 6 training courts
- 135,809 spectators in 2017
Honours List
In April 2017, Rafael Nadal did not waste his time
on the Monegasque Rock. By beating Albert Ramos-Vinolas (6-1, 6-3) in the final,
he made history. Rafael Nadal has won the trophy 10 times between 2005 and
2012, then 2016 and 2017. He is the only player to have won a trophy that
number of times, consecutively or otherwise. (List of Winners)