The competition proper begins on Monday 15 April with the first match beinng between Medvedev of Russia and Sousa of Portugal on Court Rainier III. Bautistuta of Spain and Millman of Australia will compete first on Court Des Princes.
The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is the first of three ATP Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. Held at the picturesque Monte-Carlo Country Club, the history has a long tradition of champions, led by Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who has won 11 titles at the event, including an Open Era record eight straight between 2005-2012.
Nadal will open his 2019 clay-court campaign in Monte-Carlo, and is joined in the field by past champions Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka, and the likes of Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
With no races on the final day of the Monaco Swan One Design event, because of lack of wind, the standings from previous days carried forward to final positions.
Leonardo Ferragamo’s Italian entry, Cuordileone, won in ClubSwan 50, Luis Senis’ Spanish team on Porron IX took home the Swan 45 prize and Lorenzo Mondo’s Far Star from Italy carried top spot in ClubSwan 42.
In the battle for The Nations Trophy, Cuordileone and Andrea Masi’s ClubSwan 50 Ulika combined to give victory to Italy.
ClubSwan 50
Ferragamo’s team, with Ken Read in the tactician’s role, scored two seconds and one third, beating Ulika by two points, despite Masi’s crew winning one of the three races. Skorpios, another race winner, was a further three points behind, the Russian crew’s otherwise impeccable scoreline let down by an uncharacteristically bad result in race two of the series.
Swan 45
Porron IX is the defending world champion in the Swan 45. Across three races, the team once again proved its class. Hugo Rocha, the Portuguese 1996 Olympic bronze medallist from the 470 class, stepped into the tactician’s shoes due to a clash in the calendar for the regular role-player.
It was not straight-forward given the conditions, but Rocha believes the boat-handling skills of the Porron crew made all the difference.
“We have a very similar speed to the other Swan 45s, but in the manoeuvres these guys are very strong,” advises Rocha.
“We win on small details. The races are very close and the points difference at the end of the event is often close too. The team has been together for two years. They know the boat. The communication is solid. It makes it easy for me to just concentrate on my job.”
ClubSwan 42
Lorenzo Mondo and Far Star won at the Monaco Swan One Design in 2018, and winning again brought a smile to Mondo’s face.
Three wins from three left the other boats in class clutching at straws, but Mondo was gracious in victory.
“It was not the big challenge we hoped for, but we are very happy to win here,” he said.
“We expect in Scarlino the challenge will be much greater. There will be more boats and more fun. Maybe the wind will be more generous too!”
HSH Prince Albert II welcomes Prime Minister of Albania
At the invitation of HSH Prince Albert II, His Excellency Mr Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, made a two-day official visit to the Principality of Monaco on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 April 2019.
Official Visit of H.E. Mr Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania
H.E. Mr Rama was accompanied by a delegation composed of Mr Blendi Klosi, Minister of Tourism and the Environment; Mr Etjen Xhafaj, Vice Minister Europe and Foreign Affairs; Mr Dritan Tola, Ambassador of Albania to France; Mr Endri Fuga, Director of Communications to the Prime Minister; Mr Sokol Nano, Director of the Development and Investment Agency and Mr Julien Roche, President of the France-Albania Chamber of Commerce and Advisor to the Prime Minister.
On Wednesday 10 April, the Sovereign Prince received Mr Edi Rama at the Palace of Monaco for a bilateral meeting, then during an official ceremony in the Salle des Gardes, He awarded the Cross of Commander of the Order of Saint-Charles to Mr Rama in the presence of both the Monegasque and Albanian delegations. A lunch was later held in the Salon des Glaces.
This visit followed the visit of the Monegasque Sovereign to Albania on 16 October 2018, during which He met H.E. Mr Ilir Meta, President of the Republic of Albania, and H.E. Mr Edi Rama.
In October 2019, H.E. Mr Ilir Meta will pay an official visit to Monaco.
Minister of State meets Monaco Press Club journalists
The Minister of State was the guest of the Monaco Press Club on April 11. In front of the press and communication professionals gathered at the Automobile Club, Serge Telle recalled the importance of the media in a democracy.
“There is no public policy without journalists to report on it,” he said.
Asked about the various topical issues, the head of the government gave an update on the negotiations of an association agreement with the European Union.
“I have no doubt about the need for our companies to have access to the big market and the freedom for Monegasques to work in any European country. But that will not happen under any conditions,” he said.
The challenge today is to negotiate an agreement that takes into account the specificities of Monaco and the famous “red lines” set by Prince Albert II, and preserves certain rights reserved for nationals.
“It would be unthinkable that the Monegasques, minority in their country, can not be protected in a territory of two square kilometres,” said Serge Telle.
Asked about the date of signing the memorandum of understanding, the Minister of State said, “We are doing a lot of work but it will probably be difficult to be ready in June. In a negotiation, you have to be master of time and keep control of the clocks.”
During this meeting with the Monaco Press Club, the Minister of State returned to the National Plan for Housing and the tiny percentage of vacant state apartments. Serge Telle has finally announced the lines of reflection underway in favour of the housing of French assets of Monaco in neighbouring municipalities as well as issues related to the energy transition and Smart City.
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