Monte-Carlo Country Club, home of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters

The time when the Tournament was threatened with being downgraded was particularly difficult for all of us. I remember taking part in endless meetings, discussions and conference calls with our staff, our lawyers and of course the ATP. I was particularly impressed at that time by my mother, who fought tirelessly to protect our tournament… Mum was a really extraordinary person, with an iron will!

We were all deeply touched by the players’ enthusiasm and their initiatives to defend the tournament. Their stance undoubtedly helped us a lot; as did the support of the public. I think this affection is definitely due to several reasons – such as the fact that we are the oldest Masters 1000 and the second oldest tournament after Wimbledon.  Hosting an event like this in a club that is active all year round also creates a very special, almost family-like atmosphere, especially as some of the players train regularly at the Club.

The list is long! You can regularly see some of the greatest tennis players on the pathways, in the restaurant and on the courts… Among former players, I could mention legends such as Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas, Boris Becker and Marat Safin, as well as Michaël Stich and Zeljko Franulovic, Helena Sukova and Virginie Razzano.

As for current players, we often have the pleasure of welcoming Novak Djokovic, David Goffin, Grigor Dimitrov, Stan Wawrinka, Mihail Zverev, Marin Cilic, Fabio Fognini, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Milos Raonic and Bernard Tomic, as well as Donna Vekic, Karolina Pliskova and Maria Sakkari, for example – not forgetting new-generation players, such as Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.  And of course, there are also celebrities from the tennis world such as Toni Nadal, Rafa’s uncle!  As I always say, the tennis world in Monaco is one big family …