Published on November 24, 2021Updated on April 02, 2024
Every year since 1897, the Principality has hosted one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world: the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Scheduled for April, the first big European meeting of the year on the clay courts brings together the greatest players in the world. Come in and take part in building the history of one of the most prestigious tournaments of the ATP tour!
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in Monaco: young and century-old
Each spring, tennis enthusiasts meet at the Monte-Carlo Country Club (MCCC). Up against a cliff edge overlooking the Mediterranean, the Roquebrune-Cap-Martin site has always been an avant-garde place. When it opened in 1928, it housed 20 tennis courts, including 12 for the competition alone, a 150-seat restaurant and changing rooms for up to 700 members! Up until the end of the 1960's and the era of the open, the tournament in Monaco was heavily linked with the Butler family. At the time, the best players and American stars went to the Principality for tennis… and for the legendary parties organized by Gloria Butler.
An important event for tennis players
Even though the festive spirit of the event has not disappeared, especially with the Player's Party (a party taking place every Wednesday of the tournament at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort), the competitive aspect is still the primary focus of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. The all-men's competition (singles and doubles) brings together the 56 best tennis players in the world. The clay of the Principality is sacred as it is the first European tournament of the season on clay. With 11 titles, Spanish legend Rafael Nadal is well-aware of how important this Masters is. He even has one of the rooms of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort named after him!
Did you know? The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is the official host of the tournament. It is therefore quite common to come across some of the greatest tennis stars in the world when walking its halls and corridors.
Rafael Nadal: the undisputed tennis champion in Monaco
The first ten editions of the Monte-Carlo tournament was dominated by two brothers, Lawrence and Reginald Doherty, who won it four and six times respectively. In 1969, the competition, originally reserved for amateurs, became an Open, with Ilie Nastase, Björn Borg and clay-court specialist Thomas Muster each winning three editions. However, it is Rafael Nadal who holds the current record at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, having won every year between 2005 and 2012 and again between 2016 and 2019, making a total of eleven titles. With just one final lost and 4 sets conceded out of 26 played, Nadal is the king of this Monegasque clay court, which he has always loved and regarded as his springboard to the French Open Grand Slam tournament at Roland Garros, which follows the Monte Carlo Masters.
This ATP tennis tournament in Monaco is an unforgettable experience
What if you joined the 40,000 annual spectators who are lucky enough to watch a match of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters? With luxurious and modern facilities, a contemporary and timeless setting and perfect tennis courts that delight the players, this tournament is unlike any other. There are also so many ways to enjoy life before and after the games. Walk through the streets of the Principality, take a dive in one of the beautiful swimming pools Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer's establishments have to offer or sunbathe on the sand of Larvotto beach. Join the locals on the terrace of the legendary Café de Paris Monte-Carlo to talk about the games. Take part in a bonding experience around the tables of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Dine at the best and most beautiful tables in the Principality.
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