Did you know?
Did you know?
Lesser-known facts
about Monaco
А знаете ли вы, что?
Малоизвестные факты о Монако
Everyone knows the amazing story of the American actress, Grace Kelly, who became the Princess of
Monaco. You probably also know that Monaco is the smallest country in the world, after the Vatican.
And per haps you even know that the Principality is ruled by one of the oldest princely families, Grimaldi.
There are many things that have made Monaco famous, including having one of the most famous casinos,
being a European tax haven, becoming a home for billionaires, and being a luxurious holiday destination.
What else is there to know about Monaco? Well, we will try to surprise you!
Вы наверняка знаете, что Монако — самое маленькое в мире государство после Ватикана. Многим
также известна удивительная история американской актрисы Грейс Келли, ставшей княгиней
Монако. Княжество находится под управлением древнейшего княжеского рода Гримальди и
прославилось как пристанище миллиардеров, налоговый рай Европы и роскошное место для отдыха…
Казалось бы, что еще можно сказать о Монако? И все же мы попробуем вас удивить!
Tennis stars in the Principality
T
he Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters ten-
nis tournament attracts the world’s
best players. But did you know that
many of them not only come to the Prin-
cipality for the tournament, but live here
as well? It’s no wonder — a warm climate,
the best training facilities, 40 courts of the
prestigious Monte Carlo tennis club, medi-
cal care and massage at any time — who
wouldn’t choose Monaco as their base?
In 2000, a Serbian, Novak Djokovic, one of
the «big four» tennis professionals became
a Monaco resident. He is a twelve-time win-
ner of the Grand Slam singles, the five-time
Grigor Dimitrov
16 / Hello Monaco Spring–Summer 2018
winner of the ATP World Tour finals and the
Davis Cup winner (2010). As a Monaco resi-
dent, Djokovic takes an active part in Prin-
cess Charlene Charity Foundation. He also
inspired the opening of the vegan restau-
rant «Equita» in the heart of the Principality.
Another Monaco resident is a Czech ten-
nis player Petra Kvitova. She is a two-time
winner of the Grand Slam and the Final
WTA Tour, five-time winner of the Federa-
tion Cup, a bronze medallist of the 2016
Olympic Games in singles, and the former
world second racket (2011). But Petra’s Mo-
naco residence came with quite a sensa-
tional consequence. After her victory at
Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious
tennis championships, the Czech Repub-
lic had an unpleasant surprise in store for
her. A Czech Social Democrat, Stanislav
Huml, called for rescinding Petra of her
Czech nationality. According to Huml, Pe-
tra «refused» to pay the income tax into
the Czech treasury by residing in Monaco.
Fortunately, Petra received the support of
President Milos Zeman and the Finance
Minister Andrei Babis. They argued that
her Monaco residence is well justified since
she is training and performing abroad. Un-
der Czech tax law, anyone residing more
Звезды большого тенниса в Княжестве
Petra Kvitova
than six months outside of the Czech Re-
public does not have to pay tax. Moreover,
they argued, Petra is a worthy ambassador
of her country around the world.
Bulgarian tennis player, Grigor Dimitrov, calls
Monaco home as well. A world third racket
and eight time ATP Tournament winner, all
in the singles, Dimitrov became famous not
only for his sporting achievements, but also
for his love affairs. He had a 3-year relation-
ship with the tennis star Maria Sharapova.
Since 2015, he has been dating Nicole Scher-
zinger, lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls.
The list of famous tennis players who are
Monaco residents is impressively long. This
includes: Czech Radek Stepanek, Tomas
Berdych and Lucie Safarova, Danish Caroline
Wozniacki, Canadian Milos Raionic, Australian
Bernard Tomic and the Russians Marat Safin
and Dinara Safina.