ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS
stinct , he reached the podium twice in 1967 and 1968 . At the top of the international 1960 ’ s ranking charts , Pietrangeli achieved excellent results in major challenges like Wimbledon , Roland Garros and in the Davis Cup where he won 120 victories in 164 attendances thus holding the world record in Davis Cup history . His extraordinary career made it possible to dedicate the original tennis courts in Foro Italico ( Rome ) with his name — an acknowledgement rarely granted to a contemporary champion .
ILIE THEODORIU NĂSTASE : LEADING LIGHT OF THE EARLY 1970 ’ S
In the following decade , victory primarily passed into Ilie Năstase ’ s hands for three consecutive years from 1971 to 1973 . The Open era could not have started in a better way ! This top Romanian player , regarded as one of the most gifted and fastest of champions , is a member of the top-ten list of professionals who have won more than one hundred ATP tournaments . He perfected for the first time a new tennis shot to better perform lobs , known as the ‘‘ Bucharest Backfire ’’ after being so nicknamed by the writer Budd Collins .
BJÖRN RUNE BORG : ICE COOL UNDER PRESSURE DURING THE LATE 1970 ’ S
Another world number one entered the Monte-Carlo Masters ’ arena a few years later . The Swede Björn Borg , imposed himself in 1977 , 1979 and 1980 . Being the only tennis player to win five
Fabio Fognini competing at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Wimbledon titles in a row in the Open era , he succeeded six times at Roland Garros and in further major international tournaments . He achieved the maximum level of outcome during his professional career having started playing as a child . He is still remembered as a great-endurance performer able to play powerful ground-strokes thanks to his athletic body as well as his winning attitude and the ability to stay cool even under pressure .
© Gianni Ciaccia
© Lijian Zhang
Roger Federer competing at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
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