ATP ROLEX MONTE CARLO MASTERS

 ROLEX MONTE CARLO ATP MASTERS 1000

"GEM OF THE MEDITERRANEAN" - Monte Carlo Country Club overlooking the Mediterranean Sea

This week we only have eyes for the the Rolex Monte Carlo ATP Masters (since there's nothing else on the calendar this week😎) - so let's get busy on the French Riviera!👇

Rolex Monte Carlo Masters ATP 1000
Monte-Carlo Country Club
Monte Carlo, Monaco
April 10-17-2022

(To be entirely accurate the tournament actually takes place in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, which borders Monaco)

Surface: Red Clay (outdoor)

Draw: Singles 56, Doubles 28

The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006, is the first of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. The tournament is a player and fan favourite due to its magnificent location, the Monte-Carlo Country Club, and long tradition of champions. Spain's Rafael Nadal has won 11 titles at the event, including an Open-Era record eight successive titles between 2005-2012. ~ ATP

The French Riviera - Home to a Passel of Top-Ranked Tennis Players

First held in 1897. In 2009 the tournament became the only Masters 1000 not to have a mandatory player commitment. The tourney continues to attract a strong player field, however. This year crowds will be permitted for the first time since 2019.

Defending champion:Stefanos Tsitsipas (first Masters title)

Most titles: Rafa Nadal with 11 (including an incredible streak of 8 consecutive titles 2005-2012

Eyes will be on several players, including Novak Djokovic, who won the title in 2013 and 2015. This will be just his 2nd tour-level tournament this season. Last year Djokovic was knocked out in the 3R round by Dan Evans. There is also much excitement about Stan Wawrinka’s return to tour-level play. Outside of a Challenger, Stan has not competed since March 2021 due to injury. Wawrinka won the title in 2014. Plus this will be the first Monte Carlo tournament for 18-year-old superstreak Carlos Alcaraz, who did not take part last year because he was ranked outside the top 100.

Seeds (in order of seeding): Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev. Felix Auger-Aliassime, Cameron Norrie, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Taylor Fritz, Hubert Hurkacz, Diego Schwartzman, Pablo Carreno Busta, Roberto Bautista Agut, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Lorenzo Sonego

(The top 8 seeds receive a first round bye.)

Other notables include: Marin Cilic, Alex de Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov, Daniel Evans, Karen Khachanov, Gael Monfils

Wildcards: Lucas Catarina (Monaco), David Goffin, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka

Withdrawals include: Matteo Berrettini, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem

Mega Yacht in Port Hercule, Monte Carlo Monaco - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Monaco, proves, like diamonds, that the best things truly do come in small packages. Being the second smallest country in the world and yet synonymous with the term jet-set, this tiny principality is a ritzy, glitzy, home and playground of the uber-rich - 5-star hotels, cuisine, the quintessential Monte Carlo Casino, plus beaucoup mega yachts.

The Prince of Monaco's Palace View of the French Riviera

Potential Quarterfinalists if the seeds hold:

Djokovic (1) v. Alcaraz (8)

Ruud (4) v. Norrie (7)

Felix Auger-Aliassime (6) v. Tsitsipas (3)

Rublev (5) v. Zverev (2)

SINGLES DRAW

DOUBLES DRAW

OOP

(top) Seaside Feast; (bottom) veggie delight - Elsa Restaurant - Michelin-star organic restaurant  

Infamous Casino de Monte Carlo

The decadence, money, glamour, and sport this week in Monte Carlo is but a detour, maybe a sideshow - a blip - in a world where Ukraine is being systematically torn apart by a "war of aggression" every day since February 24, 2022. We are not forgetting, this week we're watching tennis but with one eye on, and hearts out for, Ukraine

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BILLIE JEAN KING CUP this week, Friday, Saturday & Sunday - April 15-17, 2022:

 Italy v. France (2) Alghero SS, Italy

 USA (3) v. Ukraine Asheville, South Carolina USA

 Czech Republic (4) v. Great Britain Prague, Czech Republic

 Kazakhstan v. Germany (6), Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

 Canada (7) v. Latvia Vancouver, Canada

 Netherlands v. Spain (8) s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands

 Poland v. Romania (9) Radom, Poland

 QUALIFIERS

 The winning nations from the 2022 Qualifiers will advance to the 2022 Finals. As finalists in 2021, Switzerland have qualified automatically for the 2022 Finals.

Following the suspension of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) and Belarus Tennis Federation (BTF) from ITF membership and from participation in ITF international team competitions on 1 March 2022, Australia will replace RTF (who had qualified automatically as 2021 champions) in the 2022 Finals, with both Slovakia and Belgium receiving a bye to the 2022 Finals. The losing nations will compete in the Play-offs.  

Belarus was scheduled v. Belgium and RTF was scheduled v. Slovakia prior to their respective suspensions.

Billie Jean King Cup Website:    

Shirley Hartt Merci Beaucoup