Hello Monaco #11 Spring 2021 | Page 101

ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS
© Agence Realis Monaco
The 2019 edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
THOMAS MUSTER : A MODERN TENNIS ‘ HERCULES ’

In the 1990 ’ s , a new clay court ‘’ hero ’’ succeeded at the Monte-Carlo Masters . Thomas Muster from Austria was awarded the first prize in 1992 , 1995 and 1996 just sealing a spectacular career with some relevant milestones like the 1995 French Open for a total of forty-four titles won , including eight Masters 1000 Series titles and a career high of twelve singles tournament titles in just one season in 1995 , a record exceeded only by the winningest player in recent times , Roger Federer . His tenacity led him to overcome every obstacle including his car accident that occurred in Miami , just before the final of the 1989 Lipton International Players Championships . After a few months , he continued to train during his recovery and he even managed to win in Miami eight years later .

RAFAEL NADAL : THE KING OF THE ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

He had been winning since 2005 right until 2011 , coming back to the podium in the 2016 , 2017 and 2018 editions . What else to add ? The Spanish top player Rafael Nadal , named ‘ Rafa ’, is not by chance considered as one of the greatest and most successful athletes in recent sports history . His first great success was at the Davis Cup in 2004 at the age of eighteen , one podium in the Australian Open , thirteen-time winner at Roland Garros , twice winning in Wimbledon , four-time prize-winner at the US Open , two Olympic gold medals and much more put him at the top of every ranking with more than one thousand first awards . This is the result of the perfect combination between his athletic body and mindfulness allowing him to give the best of himself for the duration of any challenge . Speed in running , muscle power , endurance , balance and the ability to manage precisely any possible unforeseen event during the match are some of his strengths .

LIST OF THE MAJOR TENNIS PLAYERS INCLUDED IN THE INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME :
• Reginald and
Lawrence Doherty
1980
• Anthony Wilding
1978
• Henri Jean Cochet
1976
• Nicola Pietrangeli
1986
• Ilie Năstase
1991
• Björn Borg
1987
NOVAK DJOKOVIC : FAME AND PURE TALENT

Despite having won only twice at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters , in 2013 and 2015 , the Serbian Novak Djokovic , famous Monegasque resident , is regarded as one of the most talented tennis players together with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer . He went down in history for winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 Tournaments , achieving the ATP Career Golden Masters status . He is top-ranked in the international list of most successful players , being awarded first place at the Australian Open , Wimbledon , US Open , Roland Garros just to name a few . His great athletic skills as well as his mental toughness together with great flexibility and adaptability make him almost invincible .

FABIO FOGNINI : THE CHAMPION OF THE FUTURE

The last edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in 2019 , before the covid-19 outbreak , was won by Fabio Fognini , known as one of Italy ’ s most-skilled players of the new generation , coming from Sanremo , the sea resort in the nearby Ligurian Riviera . He is currently in the top-ten , succeeding in relevant tournaments of the ATP Tour , including the German and the Australian Open , in doubles with Simone Bolelli . His win in Monaco scored the first Italian victory in the Open era .

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