The 115th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters was held in Monaco from 9 to 17 April. After a two-year pandemic forced the tournament to be cancelled or played behind closed doors, the Monte-Carlo Country Club welcomed spectators for an incredible week. Here is a look back at Saturday, when the two semi-finals were held.
Before diving into the wonderful world of Monegasque tennis in 2022, let’s take a look at the history of the prestigious Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, which celebrated its 115th edition and 125th anniversary this year. Created in 1897, it has been held every year at the Monte-Carlo Country Club since 1928. The current Club was built to improve the facilities of the Principality’s tennis club founded in 1893. The elite of professional players who come to play the tournament can thus meet in an idyllic setting worthy of the name. Since then, the Monte-Carlo Country Club and the ATP Masters 1000 de Monte-Carlo have continued to evolve while preserving their common history and traditions.
As its name suggests, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters has an official sponsor of choice : Rolex. Through its commitment, the watchmaking brand is helping to perpetuate the traditions of tennis. Rolex formed its first partnership with the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in 2006 before becoming Title Sponsor three years later. Today, Rolex is guaranteed to be the official sponsor of the tournament until at least 2031.
Saturday 16th April, 11am, we arrive at the tournament venue. A large number of people are present in the entrance hall, and the security service is on point. A short visit to the Monte-Carlo Country Club, where we pass by a dream pool, an exceptional Maserati (new partner of the tournament) on display to the public, and the gastronomic restaurants where the smells of southern cuisine can already be felt.
We sit in the stands, row 10, where the court seems closer than ever. With a breathtaking view of the azure waters of the Mediterranean and the houses on the rocks, we watch the first match of the day, a doubles match between Rohan Bopanna and Jamie Murray – Andy Murray’s older brother – against Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram. The latter came out on top in a tie-break match.
The hunger is growing, and it is time to go and enjoy a meal at the gastronomic restaurant Le Village. Prepared by the caterer Lenôtre, the meal has summer flavours between the heat, the gypsy music coming to sharpen our ears in live, and the Mediterranean gastronomy. Salmon with pistachio cream, veal fondant and vanilla for dessert, a real gastronomic feast before returning to the stands.
The first match of the singles semi-final has already started : Davidovith VS Dimitrov. A high-flying and hotly contested match between the Spaniard and the Bulgarian. The match was thought to be over after Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won the fifth game in the second set, but Dimitrov came back into the match and managed to win a set to even the score. The audience was divided between the two tennis players and was kept on its toes. Davidovich finally managed to win (6-4, 6-7, 6-3).
After a short break, the opportunity to taste some macaroons in the Village, the second semi-final between Alexander Zverev and Stéfanos Tsitsipas takes place. The match was intense, but shorter, as the Greek defeated the German in just two sets (6-4, 6.2). The two matches of the afternoon set the trend for the next day’s final between Davidovich and Tsitsipas, which the latter won.
The day is over, but it was a memorable Monegasque experience, in a context that could not have been more idyllic. Seeing some of the best tennis players in the world play in front of enthusiastic fans who came to support them gave a taste of a return to normal life, after two complicated years for the sport which suffered from the absence of a public. See you next year, to see if Tsitsipas will remain the undisputed champion of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, after his victory in 2021 and this year !
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Featured photo : © Monte-Carlo Masters
