A promising 112e edition
Paris, Thursday 22nd March, 2018 – It was during a press lunch in Paris, on board “Excellence”, one of the Yachts de Paris, that Zeljko Franulovic, the Tournament Director, revealed the list of the 45 players directly admitted into the Main Draw and presented the highlights of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2018.
Following the first two American ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the year, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, organised from 14 to 22 April by the S.M.E.T.T. (Société Monégasque pour l’Exploitation du Tournoi de Tennis), is the first major tournament of the European season. A centenary event which, for its 112th edition, has been renamed to illustrate the close ties between the tournament and its title sponsor Rolex.
The Draw Ceremony will take place in the Atrium du Casino, an emblematic location in the Principality, with the Draw Ceremony on Friday 13th April at 6.30 pm, in the presence of the title-holder Rafael Nadal. In 2017, the Spaniard won his tenth title on the Monegasque ochre before going on to win in Barcelona, Madrid and, above all, his 10th title at Roland-Garros before triumphing at the US Open. The Société des Bains de Mer, the institutional partner of the Tournament, is paying tribute to this immense champion by naming one of the suites at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hôtel & Resort after him.
An exceptional Main Draw for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
In addition to Rafael Nadal (No.2), the players include the Croatian Marin Cilic (No.3), the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (No.4), the German Alexander Zverev (No.5), the Austrian Dominic Thiem (No.7), the Belgian David Goffin (No.9), the Frenchman Lucas Pouille (No.10) as well as the Serb Novak Djokovic (No.12). Also noteworthy is the presence of the Japanese player Kei Nishikori (No.33) as well as many of the “next generation” players.
Most of the French players will be present including Adrian Mannarino, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gaël Monfils.
Added to this list will be the 7 players from the qualifying rounds and the 4 wild-cards for a total of 56 players.
The players commited to the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation
Continuing in its commitment to charity and humanitarian work, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is organising an exhibition for the benefit of the Prince Albert II de Monaco Foundation, on Court Rainier III, on Saturday 14 April, with the participation of the best tournament players, all concerned with the protection of the environment.
A week that promises to be intense, as much on-court as off-court, with numerous activities, such as the Kids’ Day, on Sunday 15 April, the traditional Grande Nuit du Tennis, organised in the Salle des Etoiles on Friday 20 April at 8.30 pm and the very private players’ party, a tournament exclusivity for almost 60 years.
Rendez-vous from 14 to 22 April 2018 for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.