MONTE CARLO. While the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 starts on Sunday April 10, Novak Djokovic is already present in the Principality of Monaco to train.
Absent at the Australian Open and while he has only played three matches in the last four months (he remains on a surprise defeat against Jiri Vesely in the quarter-finals of the Dubai tournament on February 24 – NDR ), Novak Djokovic has already arrived in Monte-Carlo where the Masters 1000 starts on Sunday April 10. Seeded number 1, the Serb exchanged balls with Alex Orlov and Tommaso Dal Santo from the Piatti center.
A few weeks before Roland-Garros (May 16-June 5), the prestigious Monegasque tournament is the first major competition of the season on clay. If Novak Djokovic is already present, Rafael Nadal, injured in the ribs, will be absent during this 2022 edition. Defending champion in Monte-Carlo, Stefanos Tsitsipas will be there in the principality to try to do the double. On the French side, Gaël Monfils and Ugo Humbert should participate in the Masters 1000, like Benoit Paire who benefited from the “Rafa” package to climb directly into the final table. Note that many Habs will go through the qualifications like Arthur Rinderknech, Benjamin Bonzi, Adrian Mannarino and Hugo Gaston.
The Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 will take place from April 9 to 17 on the courts of the Country-Club (MCCC) located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. The public will be back this year two years after the cancellation of the tournament. Last year, the edition, marked by the pandemic, was disputed behind closed doors.
Holder of the TV rights for the nine Masters 1000 including that of Monte-Carlo, Eurosport will broadcast the 2022 Monte-Carlo tournament on its channels and platforms. It’s official: C8 will broadcast the semi-finals and the final of the tournament in the clear. The Canal group channel will be on the air from 1:25 p.m. on Saturday for the last four and 2:25 p.m. on Sunday for the final.
On Friday April 8, the 2022 edition of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 will kick off with a draw in the presence of defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas. The entire TOP 10 are expected to take part in the tournament including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. On the French side, most French players will be present including Gaël Monfils and Ugo Humbert. Zeljko Franulovic, tournament director revealed the identity of the first two wild cards: Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Stan Wawrinka.
Created in 1897, the Monte-Carlo tournament is a historic tennis competition. Since the start of the Open Era in 1968, here is the list of winners of the tournament:
- 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- 2020: tournament canceled
- 2019: Fabio Fognini
- 2018: Rafael Nadal
- 2017: Rafael Nadal
- 2016: Rafael Nadal
- 2015: Novak Djokovic
- 2014: Stan Wawrinka
- 2013: Novak Djokovic
- 2012: Rafael Nadal
- 2011: Rafael Nadal
- 2010: Rafael Nadal
- 2009: Rafael Nadal
- 2008: Rafael Nadal
- 2007: Rafael Nadal
- 2006: Rafael Nadal
- 2005: Rafael Nadal
- 2004: Guillermo Coria
- 2003: Juan Carlos Ferrero
- 2002: Juan Carlos Ferrero
- 2001: Gustavo Kuerten
- 2000: Cédric Pioline
- 1999: Gustavo Kuerten
- 1998: Carlos Moya
- 1997: Marcelo Rios
- 1996: Thomas Muster
- 1995: Thomas Muster
- 1994: Andrei Medvedev
- 1993: Sergi Bruguera
- 1992: Thomas Muster
- 1991: Sergi Bruguera
- 1990: Andrei Chesnokov
- 1989: Alberto Mancini
- 1988: Ivan Lendl
- 1987: Mats Wilander
- 1986: Joakim Nystrom
- 1985: Ivan Lendl
- 1984: Henrik Sundstrom
- 1983: Mats Wilander
- 1982: Guillermo Vilas
- 1981: Guillermo Vilas/Jimmy Connors (final not played due to rain)
- 1980: Bjorn Borg
- 1979: Bjorn Borg
- 1978: Raúl Ramírez
- 1977: Bjorn Borg
- 1976: Guillermo Vilas
- 1975: Manuel Orantes
- 1974: Andrew Pattison
- 1973: Illi Nastase
- 1972: Illi Nastase
- 1971: Illi Nastase
- 1970: Zeljko Franulovic
- 1969: Tom Okker
- 1968: Nicola Pietrangeli