Held from April 6 to 13, 2025, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters has been blending tradition, sporting excellence and elegance on the Mediterranean coast for over 125 years. Through its rich history and increasingly spectacular editions, the Monegasque tournament has established itself as a must-attend event on the ATP circuit. Here’s a look back at its prestigious origins, its highlights, and a record-breaking 2025 edition, under the triumph of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
A tournament with a rich history
The Monte-Carlo tournament was born in 1897 in an unusual setting, to say the least : the first matches were played on courts installed atop the wine cellars of the Hôtel de Paris. From the outset, the event attracted the elite of British tennis, as well as a number of players from the United States, and became an integral part of the Côte d’Azur’s popular winter calendar.
Initially open to men’s and women’s competitions in singles, doubles and handicap categories, the tournament underwent several moves. In 1921, it took up residence on the roof of the Auto-Rivera garage in Beausoleil, with the opening of La Festa Country Club. But it was in 1925 that a major turning point came, thanks to the support of George Butler, an American businessman with a passion for tennis. He financed the creation of a major new club on the heights of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Architect Charles Letrosne designed a complex of twenty clay courts, nestling among flower-filled terraces, giving rise to the prestigious Monte-Carlo Country Club we know today, officially inaugurated in 1928.
The site then became the venue for renowned competitions such as the Monte Carlo International Championships, the Butler Trophy and the Beaumont Cup, with prizes donated by renowned personalities such as European sovereigns and generous patrons.
After the Second World War, Gloria Butler, daughter of the American patron, revived the tournament with renewed energy. She restored the event to its former glory, inviting the great names of international tennis, while introducing a festive tradition : the famous post-final evenings featuring music, artistic performances and comedy.
In 1969, Monte Carlo officially entered the Open era and opened its doors to professionals. However, structural changes, such as the creation of the official village and the enlargement of the grandstands, marked the end of women’s participation at the end of the 1970s : today, the tournament is only played in men’s singles and doubles.
A record-breaking and innovative edition
The 118th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters marked a real turning point in the tournament’s history. At the closing conference, tournament director David Massey expressed his delight at the overall success of the event, which set a new attendance record. “Last year, we welcomed over 148,000 people. This year, for the first time, we will pass the symbolic 150,000 spectator mark over the nine days of the tournament”, he proudly announced.
Among the highlights of the 2025 edition, the 35% expansion of the site was unanimously welcomed. The new Players Village, set up in the Monte-Carlo Beach Club, won over players and teams alike. “We have, I think, the best Players Village in the world. We’ve been lacking space, and we’ve finally been able to provide it,” explained Massey.
Another major innovation was the introduction of electronic line judging on clay, a first for a Masters 1000 event. This system, developed in partnership with Hawk-Eye, replaced the line judges for improved accuracy.
Last but not least, the tournament paid a moving tribute to Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, a historic figure of the Monte-Carlo Masters, by renaming court n°2 in her honor. A ceremony attended by Prince Albert II opened this symbolic new page in the history of the event.
Prestigious sponsors
Sponsors were once again in abundance for this latest edition of the Monegasque tournament. From Emirates to Moët Hennessy and Lancaster, one brand in particular caught the eye : Maserati, which has been present for several years, displayed a splendid MC20 Cielo at the heart of the Monte-Carlo Country Club. For the fourth consecutive year, the carmaker is participating in the prestigious Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters as the tournament’s main sponsor and official car.
As for the « MC20 Cielo Less is More…? », this unique piece was custom-designed for one customer as part of Maserati’s exclusive Fuoriserie Bespoke program. Revealed recently at the inauguration of the new Officine Fuoriserie in Modena, this creation is distinguished by its many personalized features. Its design is inspired by the Bauhaus artistic movement, with original body colors developed especially for this exceptional model.
Finally, when it comes to sponsoring the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Rolex is a must ! The watchmaker continues to expand its presence on the world’s finest tennis courts, but maintains a very special relationship with the Monegasque tournament. The brand forged its first partnership with the tournament in 2006, before becoming Title Sponsor in 2009. Today, the brand remains the tournament’s official sponsor until at least 2031.
Great spectacle in Monte-Carlo
From the quarter-finals onwards, the level of play tightened to make way for eight of the top thirty players in the ATP rankings. Lorenzo Musetti overcame last year’s winner Stefanos Tsitsipas 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Alex de Minaur produced a flawless performance against Gregor Dimitrov 6-0, 6-0. Then, Davidovich Fokina beat Alexei Popyrin without too much difficulty 6-3, 6-2 and the fourth quarter-final pitted Carlos Alcaraz against Frenchman Arthur Fils, who despite winning the first set 6-4, narrowly failed to beat the Spaniard, 7-5, 6-3.
The semi-finals on Saturday saw Italy’s Musetti defeat De Minaur in three sets, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6, while the 100% Spanish match between Davidovich Fokina and Alcaraz ended in a 7-6, 6-4 victory for the latter.
A bitter final
Advanced to noon instead of 3pm, due to the risk of rain, the two finalists did not lose out, even if the beginning and end of the match had very different flavors…
Musetti was on top form at the start of the match, winning a superb first set 6 games to 3. In the second set, however, the now world number 11’s pace slowed, with Alcaraz winning 6-1.
The third and final set proved fatal, with Lorenzo Musetti weakening his thigh early in the set, marking a disappointing end to the Italian’s remarkable tournament run.
Carlos Alcaraz’s victory was nonetheless well deserved, his first title in Monaco, and his 18th in the same tournament where his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero won twice, in 2002 and 2003.
If the next edition of the tournament takes place from April 5 to 12, 2026, we won’t have to wait long to see our finalists and tournament stars on a tennis court again : with Roland Garros fast approaching, could this be the time to see Carlos Alcaraz triumph again, after his success last year, or is it the time to see a new headliner win his first Grand Slam ? See you from May 25 to June 8 to find out.
Read also > A day at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in Monaco
Featured photo : © Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
