UPDATE 6 pm: Nadal advances to Sunday’s final after an easy win over David Goffin, 6-3, 6-1, this afternoon. Looking for his tenth Monte Carlo Rolex Masters title, Nadal will face fellow countryman Albert Ramos-Viñolas, who beat France’s Louis Poulle 6-3, 5-7, 7-1.
10 am: AS Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, who has been relishing a Champions League victory against Dotmund earlier this week, was seen enjoying the Rolex Masters quarter-finals with his wife Lorelei Taron on Friday, as Nadal and Djokovic took to the court.
While the “King of Clay” Nadal advances to Saturday’s semi-finals after beating Argentinean Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 6-4, world number two Djokovic lost to Belgium’s David Goffin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
For Djokovic, a Monaco resident who opened a vegan restaurant Eqvita last August, this was his only second match following months of dealing with an elbow injury.
Meanwhile Goffin, who had yet to beat a top-three player, will meet Nadal Saturday at 3:30 pm on Court Rainier III.
In other semi-final play Saturday, the match between France’s Lucas Pouille and Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who for the first time reaches an ATP World Tour Masters 1000, starts at 1:30 pm. (Feature photo: Facebook Monte Carlo Rolex Masters)
Top Marques Monaco, the world’s only live auto show where VIP visitors can trial the latest supercars on a F1 track, opens Thursday with a stunning line up of world premieres.
Never-seen-before supercars, revolutionary flying cars, new takes on old classics – and a Bentley Azure covered in 2 million gems, are amongst the vehicles to be unveiled for the very first time at the 14th edition of the Monaco auto show, which starts Thursday and runs until Sunday at the Grimaldi Forum.
In total there will be seven world premieres at the luxury show, including supercars from England, Italy and Holland, as well as a brand new superboat on view outside the venue on the Esplanade.
A further 25 supercars will be lined up in the Pit Lanes outside the Grimaldi Forum. These state-of-the-art vehicles will be available for test drive on a closed section of the Formula 1 GP circuit by potential clients hoping to “See It, Drive It, Buy It!”
A head-to-head race between one of the world’s fastest superdrones and a supercar is also planned for the weekend, taking place on part of the famous F1 circuit which includes iconic chicanes such as the Rascasse and Tabac.
Top Marques, now considered the Principality’s third most popular event attracting visitors from a far afield as Korea, Argentina and Iceland, will also showcase exclusive handpicked watches, and jewellery as well as the latest luxury must-haves.
The show is being organised in association with the private bank theEdmond de Rothschild group for the fifth consecutive year, with other sponsors including Dotta Immobilier, Burgess superyachts, Silversea, Groupo Meregalli, La Societe de Bains des Mers and Monaco’s Department of Tourism and Congress.
A record-breaking number of tickets have already been sold for the show, billed the “ultimate luxury car show” by Bloomberg TV, with advance tickets sales more than doubling figures for last year.
Top 10 Things to See at Top Marques 2017
#1. SINCAR For the third year running, fans of Top Marques will be able to get a sneak preview of some of the vehicles being exhibited at the show before it even opens thanks to a partnership with the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
The Sin R1 550 and the Radical RXC 500R will be on display outside the world-famous Casino de Monte-Carlo for ten days from Good Friday, April 14th.
#2. BOULLE Visitors to Top Marques will be dazzled this year by two million diamond gems sparkling through the shiny surface of a Classic Bentley Azure displayed on the Esplanade outside the Grimaldi Forum.
One of the world’s most luxurious cars just got infinitely more extravagant in this world premiere by diamond specialists Jean Boulle Luxury Group, which applied its patent pending diamond finish to the classic gentleman’s automobile. The Group also plans to launch an aviation grade diamond finishing for private jets and a marine grade diamond coating for superyachts later this year.
#3. DENDROBIUM With a top speed of 400 km/h, it is faster than the McLaren F1 (388 km/h) and the Koenigsegg CCR 4 (390 km/h) but what makes the extraordinary looking Dendrobium’s credentials even more impressive is that it is all electric.
Although you won’t be able to see Vanda Electrics’ supercar on the streets of Monaco (it’s a concept car), you will be able to see the automatic doors and roof of the car flare up and down in a synchronised manner, helping to make the driver’s entry and exit more elegant. The supercar from Singapore is named after the exotic Dendrobium orchid.
#4. AEROMOBIL In 2015 Top Marques launched the AeroMobil, the first prototype of a flying car. We are extremely proud that the engineers behind this incredible innovation has chosen our 14th edition to unveil its new model, pictured here for the first time.
AeroMobil is a completely integrated aircraft as well as a fully functioning four-wheeled car, powered by hybrid propulsion. By combining aero and car functionality in perfect harmony it heralds a new era in efficient and exciting travel, offering users an unparalleled choice of transport on the road or in the air.
Photo: AeroMobil
#5. TEST DRIVES Top Marques’ USP is its test drives on a closed circuit on the Formula 1 circuit, making it the only live supercar show in the world. Test drives take place on the “Swimming Pool” portion of the legendary Monaco Grand Prix and cars this year include the Mini Remastered by David Brown Automotive, a remake of the iconic British car for the 21st century. The “Inspired by Monte-Carlo” model will be seen in Monaco for the first time ever.
#6. PAL-V Not content in bringing you one flying car – this year, there will be two flying vehicles at Top Marques, with Dutch company PAL-V exhibiting a scale model of the first commercial flying car in the world. Sales of the PAL-V Liberty, a three-wheel gyrocopter, which features a unique Rotax engine-based dual-propulsion drivetrain, began earlier this year.
Visitors to the stand will be able to see one vehicle in flight mode and another in drive mode, with the possibility to fly the PAL-V Liberty on specially designed simulator.
#7. SILVERSEA Step inside our specially designed Silver Muse luxury suite and imagine yourself on board the world’s newest and most opulent cruise liner, being launched by Silversea in Monaco on the eve of Top Marques.
Lie back on the sumptuous designer bed, made with the very finest Italian bed linen, use the oculus to sample life on board through the poser of virtual reality and enjoy the unforgettable experience of cruising some of the most spectacular seas on the planet.
Photo: Facebook Top Marques Monaco
#8. TOP MARQUES MONACO CHAMPAGNE BAR Once you have experienced the lavish lifestyle on board Silver Muse, courtesy of the “Pop-up Luxury Suite”, we imagine your taste buds will be crying out for a coupe of champagne.
So why not visit the Top Marques Monaco Champagne Bar, where you will be able to treat you and your friends to the finest champagne provided by our sponsor Lanson? Snacks and soft drinks will also be on sale at this intimate bar where you can relax and take stock.
#9. SEBASTIAN BARRAU Paris, the City of Lights, has been transformed into a “City of Titanium” in this incredible luxury furnishing for the man who has everything.
We thoroughly recommend that you stop by Stand 41 in Luxury Lane to check out (and order, if you are feeling flush) the “Story of Paris Meridian” a bespoke desk made entirely out of titanium, for sale for a cool €250,000.
#10. PAUL DAY Paul Day’s iconic statute of two lovers embracing at St Pancras station was recently named as one of London’s top ten masterpieces. Meanwhile his memorial sculpture dedicated to soldiers in the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars was unveiled last month in London by Queen Elizabeth II.
Visitors to Top Marques are hugely privileged to be able to meet the highly skilled artist and see his work first hand on Stand 27, in Luxury Lane.
Members of Monaco’s Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI) are hosting this weekend the fourth edition of “Startup Weekend”, which runs April 21 to the 23, and helps startups see the light of day.
The Startup Weekend Monaco attracts engineers, developers, entrepreneurs, marketing specialists, graphic designers and artists, who are working together during the weekend to establish their new business.
Monaco’s Junior Chamber of Commerce is the partner for the event, which last year included 81 participants and 36 ideas that turned into 10 projects. Over 54 non-stop hours, the schedule is broken down into: Day One – 60-second Pitch & Team Up, Day Two – Learn & Work, and Day Three – Present & Chose.
Startup Weekend was founded in 2007 by Andrew Hyde and is a non-profit organisation with its headquarters in Seattle, in the US. Thanks to the concept, more than 2,500 businesses have been created around the world in the last five years. The global sponsors are Google, Eventbrite and CO.
The event this weekend takes place at the Columbus Hotel. (Feature image: Facebook Monaco Startup Weekend)
Runway shows, presentations, meetings and lifestyle events will be part of the fifth edition of the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week (MCFW), under the High Patronage of Princess Charlene, from June 1-3.
Organised by the Chambre Monégasque de la Mode (CMM), in partnership with the Monaco Government, the City Hall and the Tourism Office, MCFW will showcase swimwear collections and pre-collections prêt-à-porter spring/summer 2018 at the Fashion Village of Fontvieille in Monaco, under the artistic direction of Rosanna Trinchese who has been overseeing every creative aspect of MCFW since its first edition.
Emerging designers from different countries and diverse ethnic backgrounds – Monaco, France, Italy, England, Russia, Greece, Hungary, Belarus, Cameroon – will be on show.
“I am honoured to announce the extraordinary participation of the brand Muzungu Sisters of Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi and Dana Alikhani, real supporters of ethical fashion”, said Federica Nardoni Spinetta, President and Founder of the Chambre Monegasque de la Mode.
“Very suitable for the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week, the brand created in 2011 by Tatiana Santo Domingo Casiraghi and her friend Dana Alikhani will have its runway debut in Monaco presenting refined outfits and accessories produced by artisans from 16 countries in four continents.”
The “outward-looking” Muzungu Sisters were recognised with the 2014 UN’s Women Together Award.
Italian designer Chiara Boni will have the honour of opening the runways on Thursday, June 2, on the occasion of the celebration of Italian National Day.
The Principality will be represented by its own most prestigious brands, with Banana Moon, the insignia of beachwear and accessories inspired in the Californian lifestyle, Beach & Cashmere Monaco, created in 2005 by Federica Nardoni Spinetta, and Livia Monte-Carlo with its swimwear line inspired by the yachting scene. In addition, Stardust Monte-Carlo, a recognised jewellery icon with its extraordinary masterpieces will be present, among other names.
Ms Nardoni Spinetta is very enthusiastic: “We are accomplishing our mission to promote emerging brands by talented designers, amid high class events by already recognised insignias, reinforcing the growing interest for fashion in the Principality of Monaco.”
Rudolph Nureyev in his dressing room Royal Ballet School Cromwell Road London 1973. Photo: Allan Warren
On June 16, a play called “Lifelong Steps”, dedicated to the life of ballet great Rudolf Nureyev, will be performed in the Monaco Yacht Club, just a few months before Nureyev would have turned 80.
Club Eclectique, “an exclusive society for those who enjoy both intellectual evenings and social events” co-founded by Anna Nasobina, Yulia Polyvoda, Liana Romanova, and Victoria Granovaskaya, chose to open the summer season with a play in his honour, and with a focus on his long dancing partnership with Margot Fonteyn. The part of Dame Margot will be performed by the prima of the Bolshoi Theatre, Maria Aleksandrova, while the role of Nureyev will be played by a performer yet to be announced.
“Lifelong Steps” is the story of the love between Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, a Tatar Prince and an English Lady, a love in the name of art, the Club says.
The play will attempt to uncover the secrets of a refined English ballerina and the “Genghis Khan” of ballet and the sexiest dancer of the 20th century, who made up one of the most legendary duets in the world of ballet, the organisers say. Club Eclectique describes itself as a closed community uniting the fans of sophisticated receptions and literary soirees, which it holds several times a year in different European cities.
