Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2023, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

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DATE: April 9 - 16, 2023
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: €5,779,335
FIELD SIZE: 56
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Stefanos Tsitsipas

Seeds:

1. Novak Djokovic
2. Stefanos Tsitsipas
3. Daniil Medvedev
4. Casper Ruud
5. Andrey Rublev
6. Holger Rune
7. Jannik Sinner
8. Taylor Fritz
9. Karen Khachanov
10. Hubert Hurkacz
11. Cameron Norrie
12. Frances Tiafoe
13. Alexander Zverev
14. Alex de Minaur
15. Borna Coric
16. Lorenzo Musetti

The Tournament:

The Monte-Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, a commune that borders on Monaco. The event is part of the ATP Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour. The tournament is played on clay courts and is held every year in the April–May period.

The Monte Carlo tennis championship was first held in 1897. It became an "Open" event in 1969. From 1970 through 1973 and from 1976 through 1989 it was a major tournament of the Grand Prix Tour. In 1973 the tournament was part of the Rothmans Spring Mediterranean Circuit. From 1974 through 1977 the tournament was part of the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit. In 1990 it became an ATP Championship Series Single Week tennis event.

Beginning in 2009, Monte Carlo became the only Masters 1000 tournament not to have a mandatory player commitment. Most of the top players still elect to play the event despite this status.

Rafael Nadal won the title eight consecutive times between 2005 and 2012, making him the only player to win eight consecutive titles at the same tournament. In 2017, contesting his 11th final against Albert Ramos Viñolas, he won the title for an Open Era record 10th time. The following year, Nadal improved this record to 11 wins in a final against Kei Nishikori.

About Monte Carlo:

Monte Carlo is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to a larger district, the Monte Carlo Quarter (corresponding to the former municipality of Monte Carlo), which besides Monte Carlo/Spélugues also includes the wards of La Rousse/Saint Roman, Larvotto/Bas Moulins and Saint Michel. The permanent population of the ward of Monte Carlo is about 3,500, while that of the quarter is about 15,000. Monaco has four traditional quarters. From west to east they are: Fontvieille (the newest), Monaco-Ville (the oldest), La Condamine, and Monte Carlo.

Tourism Guide:

 

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The Draw:

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Gael Monfils has withdrawn, which allows Jack Draper to get into the main draw, he was awarded a WC, no longer needs it.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

Gael Monfils has withdrawn, which allows Jack Draper to get into the main draw, he was awarded a WC, no longer needs it.

Who cares, Nadal isn’t playing, the whole tournament should be cancelled!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Who cares, Nadal isn’t playing, the whole tournament should be cancelled!

Agreed.. I would pay triple to see this type of tennis live..look how Rafa and Novak's defense extend pass the perimeter of the television camera lens sights

 

[tented]

I’ve added the draw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have done projected QFs ( if the seeds hold )

(1) Djokovic vs Sinner (7)
(3) Medvedev vs Rune (6)
(5) Rublev vs Ruud (4)
(8) Fritz vs Tsitsipas (2)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just looking quickly at the draw ( as I am watching a women's QF at present)
Sinner has a difficult draw
Tistsipas the defending champion's draw is balanced, though the way he has been going on about his shoulder etc, he does have a ready made excuse if he dosent get to the final lol!
Ruud has the best draw, quite frankly he needs it, he just won his first back to back matches at the Estoril Open this season in the QFs, best match he has played, winning 63 60 over the defending champion Baez.

 

[Jelenafan]

Stefano is the 2 time defending champ, wonder if his body has healed enough.

It’s still the only Masters tourney he’s won.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another brilliant quote from Medvedev before Monte Carlo,

"So the first tournament is going to be tough, I'm already preparing myself mentally not to lose my mind if I play really bad in Monte Carlo"

 

[Moxie]

Another brilliant quote from Medvedev before Monte Carlo,

"So the first tournament is going to be tough, I'm already preparing myself mentally not to lose my mind if I play really bad in Monte Carlo"

I think he's mitigating expectations. He stands miles back, so he's got time on the ball, which helps on clay. And he beat Novak in MC in 2019, which is why @Front242 has always held out hope for him on clay.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think he's mitigating expectations. He stands miles back, so he's got time on the ball, which helps on clay. And he beat Novak in MC in 2019, which is why @Front242 has always held out hope for him on clay.

If he can keep his mind 'intact' lol! I have always said Medvedev has a good game for clay, he is a good defense player for starters, his height is an advantage, trying to get balls past him, just ask Sinner when they played the final at Miami recently, he can also turn defense into offense, which is the fundamental key on clay for any player

 

[roberto]

Medvedev loves to tell us what he's thinking, particularly about court surfaces. Witness his recent tumultuous relationship with the SLOW hardcourt in Miami

 

[Moxie]

Medvedev loves to tell us what he's thinking, particularly about court surfaces. Witness his recent tumultuous relationship with the SLOW hardcourt in Miami

He reminds me of another long suffering Russian, Marat Safin, who famously said that "grass if for cows," and still made the Wimbledon SF in 2008. (Lost to Roger.)

 

[Jelenafan]

He reminds me of another long suffering Russian, Marat Safin, who famously said that "grass if for cows," and still made the Wimbledon SF in 2008. (Lost to Roger.)

I was going to say full credit for that bash should go to Ivan Lendl , who stated that in the early 80’s and was subsequently adopted by Marcello Rios, Marat Safin, etc. ; )


But Then in the recesses of my brain i seemed to remember someone earlier, the great Spanish player Manuel Santana who said “grass is just for cows” , ironically a year just before he won Wimbledon in ‘66.


However my fave use of the phrase was by Guillermo Vilas after he actually won the YE Grand Prix event on grass:

 

[Moxie]

I was going to say full credit for that bash should go to Ivan Lendl , who stated that in the early 80’s and was subsequently adopted by Marcello Rios, Marat Safin, etc. ; )


But Then in the recesses of my brain i seemed to remember someone earlier, the great Spanish player Manuel Santana who said “grass is just for cows” , ironically a year just before he won Wimbledon in ‘66.


However my fave use of the phrase was by Guillermo Vilas after he actually won the YE Grand Prix event on grass:

So complaining about surfaces is not limited to us fans on the internet, nor uncommon amongst players who actually end up doing well on them, after much whining.

 

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Gasquet is in an 18+ minute game trying to hold his first service game against Thiem.

EDIT: Thiem broke, up 2-0. The first two games took 23 minutes.

 

[Moxie]

Battle of the one-handers...Thiem finally broke Gasquet in a 15+ minute 2nd game of the match. 2-0 Thiem, and the match is already 23 minutes old!

 

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