Having initially missed out on a wildcard for the Monte-Carlo Masters, Andy Murray will now compete in the event following the withdrawals of Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.
Stan Wawrinka, Fabio Fognini, Valentin Vacherot and Jack Draper were initially the recipients of the highly-coveted wildcards, which were announced last week. However, a lot can change in a week, and a lot has happened since that announcement.
Nadal and Alcaraz pulled out earlier this week, with both suffering injuries from which they have not sufficiently recovered. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gaël Monfils have both since pulled out, leaving room for Murray, who looked to have missed out, to compete in the tournament, which begins on Saturday 8th April.
Murray, who has recovered from two hip operations, hasn’t competed at the Monte-Carlo Masters since 2017. The 35-year-old Scotsman reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2009, 2011 and 2016.
Dominic Thiem returns to Monaco
Another player to profit from the spate of injuries in the lead up to the tournament is Austrian player Dominic Thiem. He benefits from Monfils’ injury, which meant that Draper’s entry was no longer on invitation. Thiem won the US Open in 2020, but hasn’t reached a Grand Slam final since. He has notably suffered with a recurring wrist injury.
Fognini, who was reliant on a wildcard to compete in the event at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, has also had to withdraw through injury, and he is replaced by compatriot Lorenzo Sonego. Wildcards have also been granted to Frenchmen Luca Van Assche and Benoit Paire, whilst Monégasque players Lucas Catarina and Hugo Nys have the chance to feature, but must first pass through the qualifying rounds.
Monaco-based charity AMADE celebrated its 60th anniversary with an event hosted by Caroline, Princess of Hanover to showcase the association’s work in helping disadvantaged children and adults around the globe.
Founded in 1963 by Princess Grace, AMADE, the World Association of Children’s Friends, has spent six decades supporting a wide range of programmes managed by on-site individuals and organisations for the benefit of local communities in some of the world’s most underprivileged regions.
The annual conference was held on 31st March and was presided over by Caroline, Princess of Hanover who welcomed roughly 50 guests, partner associations, corporate sponsors and donors to discuss the previous years’ successes, difficulties and results, as well as to lay out a game plan for the upcoming year.
AMADE has created five complementary umbrella programs, namely Dignity for Women, A Civil Status for All, Energy of Hope, Capoeira for Peace and Unaccompanied Minors to achieve their goals, with projects that span needs perhaps unthought of in developed countries.
Dignity for Women, for example, gives menstrual hygiene access to women and girls, as well as offering medical and psychological assistance to those who have suffered sexual abuse or violence.
To highlight another project, with 237 million children under the age of five living without a birth certificate, and another 166 million not legally registered, A Civil Status for All works to ensure that these children do not fall between the cracks, being deprived of health care, education and basic services.
These kinds of ordinary yet necessary programmes make huge impacts on communities and allow progress where there was none.
The association also is big on philanthropy, and as such, the 60th anniversary meeting was capped off with a round table led by Fabio Vitale, Head of Wealth Planning and Impact Solutions at BNP Paribas Wealth Management, who presented the bank’s expertise in terms of individual philanthropy advice and the benefits of working with partners such as AMADE.
The first 60 years have made such a difference and they continue to look ahead at ways to “provide appropriate, local, effective and sustainable responses to the problems faced by people in their communities.”
From 8th to 16th April, the Principality will live to the rhythm of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world and one of the most prestigious competitions on the ATP circuit.
It is an event that attracts a significant number of people and therefore affects the circulation of traffic in Monaco.
The following adjustments will be in place:
For light vehicles (cars and two-wheelers)
Boulevard du Larvotto will be one-way (Monaco-Menton direction) between the Avenue de Grande-Bretagne roundabout and the eastern border of Monaco, Saturday 8th to Thursday 13th April, from 9am to 7.30pm. The two-wheeler parking at the right of the building ‘Les Carmes’ will be banned from Sunday 2nd to Tuesday 18thApril 11pm to 11:59pm.
Parking will be prohibited on Rue du Portier from Thursday 13th at 11pm to Sunday 16th April at 11:59pm.
Buses
Boulevard du Larvotto, between No. 17 (‘Casabianca’ building) and No. 37 (‘Testimonio’ building), will be reserved for bus parking, from Saturday 8th to Thursday 13th April from 9am to 7:30pm.
Other traffic disruptions
Throughout the entire period of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, traffic difficulties will be expected due to one-way traffic on avenue Jean Jaurès in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Avenue Varavilla will remain the only main road out of the Principality on the east side.
FREE SHUTTLES PROVIDED BY THE CAM
As with each edition of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco (CAM) will charter free shuttles for tournament spectators throughout the duration of the tournament, with an extended circuit this year.
For more information: https://www.cam.mc/a-la-une-fr/04-navette-gratuite-rolex-monte-carlo-masters
Spectators with a tennis ticket will be able to access the CAM network free of charge – boat-bus included – by presenting it to the driver in exchange for a voucher.
The Monte-Carlo Masters gets underway in a matter of days, and many of the players don’t need to travel far to compete, with a significant number of tennis’ elite based right here in the Principality of Monaco.
Monaco is a magnet for sportspeople. Much of the 2023 Formula One grid is based in the Principality, whilst many cyclists such as Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Peter Sagan and Tadej Pogacar utilise the region’s undulating and meandering topography to prepare for the season.
With the Monte-Carlo Masters set to get underway on 8th April, many of the participants won’t be travelling far. Novak Djokovic, for example, has been practising on the clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, whilst Alexander Zverev has been spotted sampling some of the other sports that the Principality has to offer, witnessing AS Monaco Basketball’s victory against Gravelines-Dunkerque over the weekend.
Why do tennis players live in Monaco?
The facilities at the Monte-Carlo Country Club (MCCC), the home of the Monte-Carlo Masters, are a draw for the game’s elite. The club, located outside of the borders of the Principality in Roquebrune Cap-Martin, has 21 clay courts, two covered courts, two hard courts and 15 lighted courts. Half of the Grand Slam events, the Australian Open and the US Open are played on hard courts, whilst the French Open, one of the other two Grand Slams, is played on clay. The MCCC, as well as being one of the most glamorous events on the ATP Masters 1000 circuit, is therefore also one of the most practical for players on the circuit.
Photo by Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
The climate is also a draw. Grigor Dimitrov, the former ATP world number three, said “We couldn’t be more blessed to train in such conditions.” The temperate Côte d’Azur has mild, sunny and relatively short winters, creating optimal training conditions for the professionals.
There is also an element of following the herd. “Every morning, you come on the court and there are four top players practising. It’s great to see and I think that also motivates us to do better,” said Dimitrov.
“It’s the ideal place to be! There are so many great players around,” added Stefanos Tsitsipas, the winner of the last two editions of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Half of the Grand Slams also take place in Europe, in London, England and Paris, France, making the Principality of Monaco an ideal base throughout the year.
However, arguably the biggest reason is financial. Monaco is a tax haven, meaning that residents don’t have to pay personal income taxes. In tennis, players are taxed depending on the country in which they are competing. For example, a foreigner competing in the US Open will be charged a flat 30% rate on their earnings from that tournament. Those same earnings could then be taxed in their home country, so in order to avoid double taxation, many players base themselves in Monaco.
Photo of the MCCC by Monaco Life / Luke Entwistle
Some, however, such as Rafael Nadal, who lives in his native Mallorca, haven’t made such a move, despite the financial implications. “If I lived in another part of the world, I would have earned double, but in Mallorca, I have my friends and family. So I would have twice the money, but be half as happy,” said the Spaniard.
Djokovic, who is tied with Nadal on 22 Grand Slam victories, made a different choice, and he isn’t the only one. Monaco Life takes you through some of tennis’ most recognisable stars residing in the Principality.
Novak Djokovic
The Serbian made the move when he was a teenager. At the time, he cited the “relaxed” nature of Principality life as a factor behind his move from Belgrade. He now calls Monaco home, and he is an ambassador for the Princess Charlene Foundation. Djokovic heads into the Monte-Carlo Masters as the top seed, and will be looking to better last year’s performance, where he got knocked out in the first round.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Greek player is well known to tennis fans around Monaco. Tsitsipas has won the previous two editions of the Monte-Carlo Masters and will be looking to make it three in a row later this month. The current world number three has made two Grand Slam finals but has lost both at the hands of Djokovic, the most recent defeat coming at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Daniil Medvedev
Russian tennis player Medvedev was once world number one but is now ranked fourth. He has one Grand Slam to his name, the US Open in 2021. Speaking in 2019, Medvedev, who traded Moscow for Monaco, said he found the move difficult initially due to a form of culture shock. However, Medvedev is a French speaker and is now well-integrated into the region. He has previously cited sporting reasons for the move, admitting that it is difficult to train in Moscow.
Caroline Wozniacki
Now retired, Wozniacki was ranked number one in the world for a total of 71 weeks and won the Australian Open in 2018. The Dane retired back in 2020 and is now an ESPN presenter. She is now a neighbour to Tsitsipas following the Greek player’s change of apartments back in November.
Stan Wawrinka
Wawrinka is another familiar name with tennis fans in Monaco. The Swiss former world number three won the tournament back in 2014. He also has three Grand Slams to his name, having won the Australian Open back in 2014, the French Open in 2015, and the US Open in 2016. Wawrinka has been dogged by injury in recent years but has been attributed a wildcard for this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters.
David Goffin
David Goffin, a Belgian player, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of 7th back in 2017, has been living in Monaco since 2015. His move to the Principality was criticised at the time and ultimately divulged the reasons behind living in Monaco.
“It’s a great atmosphere for sports people. In Liège, there is a warmth that I miss a bit, but in Belgium, it became too difficult for me to train there because I couldn’t make a step without being solicited, and so I couldn’t be at ease. I won’t even speak about the weather. Here, at the end of December, I’m training every day outside basically in a T-shirt,” said Goffin.
Petra Kvitova
Kvitova, a Czech player, has won two Grand Slams during her career so far, both of which have come at Wimbledon. Her move to Monaco created a political storm in Czechia and she was notably criticised by Czech Social Democrat MP Stanislav Huml back in 2014.
“I think we should have a long and hard think about the fact that if someone leaves the Czech Republic to become a member of another state, they should lose their Czech citizenship. Because I don’t know that the few percent less in taxes that she stands to pay in a country like Monaco deflects from the fact that perhaps the Cezch Republic actually helped her achieve some of her success,” he said.
Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov reached a career-high of third in the world ranking back in 2017, and he remains in the top 30. The Bulgarian player reached the semi-finals of last year’s Monte-Carlo Masters and will be hoping to go deep into this year’s edition of the tournament.
Milos Raonic
Canadian player Raonic hasn’t played a competitive match since the summer of 2021, but his coach said in December that Raonic hadn’t retired and that he was working himself back to fitness. Raonic, who moved to Monaco in 2012, has previously been a world number three and reached the Wimbledon final back in 2016. As well as training at the MCCC, he, like other professionals, also spends time working at the Stade Louis II, the home of AS Monaco.
Alexander Zverev
Zverev, currently ranked 16th in the world, and formerly the world number two, recently attended an AS Monaco basketball fixture. The German reportedly moved in 2017 and cited “better training conditions” as motivation.
Whilst the number of elite tennis players in the Principality will multiply over the next fortnight, plenty are here year-round.
Watch Novak Djokovic preparing for the Monte-Carlo Masters at the MCCC recently in our Instagram video below…
Registering a car in Monaco may seem a bit daunting, but this simple guide will help make it easy as one-two-three.
Administrative tasks like registering a new or used vehicle used to be a serious time-taker, but in today’s more streamlined world, it is a matter of a few forms, which can be accessed online, collecting the relevant documents and scheduling an appointment, which can be handled by phone, internet or email.
WHO CAN REGISTER A CAR IN MONACO
Any person who resides or whose company is domiciled in the Principality can register a new or used car in Monaco.
Monaco residents will need to prove their residency by showing either a national ID card or a national passport with proof of address (gas or electricity bill from the SMEG, rental agreement), or a valid residence permit.
Professionals who are company owners or staff, individuals or legal entities “authorised to exercise a professional, commercial or industrial activity, or to operate an association and who are resident in the Principality” are also permitted to register a vehicle in Monaco so long as they are currently operational.
Non-trading companies are excluded from registering vehicles.
REQUESTING THE NECESSARIES
An online form to ask for a registration certificate and license plates can found on the https://monservicepublic.gouv.mc/ website and must first be filled out by anyone registering a vehicle. A person registering a used car must fill out an additional one-page form, the Certificate of Sale or Transfer of a Used Vehicle, to ensure a used vehicle transfer was done properly between the two parties.
Several documents must also be submitted including proof of identity, meaning a valid residency permit, Monaco passport or national ID card, an invoice with all particulars from the seller such as their name, address, car serial number, odometer readings, and amount sold for, and any pertinent reports, inspections and conformity checks related to the vehicle. Anything being submitted must be in French or translated into French or it will not be accepted.
Cars coming from outside France and Monaco will follow the same general protocol and will need the same proofs, with a few extras, depending on the country of origin. For example, if the car is coming from outside the European Union, there must be a signed, dated receipt showing the payment of customs duties issued by the Douane, the French Customs Authorities.
APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING PLATES
Once all documents are in order, the vehicle owner can make an appointment at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office, which can be done online, via e-mail or by calling the office directly.
On the day of the rendezvous, the applicant must bring all paperwork as well as a preferred payment method. Once the agent has given the all-clear that everything is in order, they will arrange a date and time to pick up the registration certificate and number plates within 72 hours. If the agent does not set a pick-up time, this can be done using the same avenues as the original appointment.
VINTAGE CARS
Any vehicle over 30-years-old can be registered as a vintage car by owner request. Vehicles registered this way may only be driven occasionally at rallies or other events where the participation of a specific type of vehicle is required. It is not a requirement for cars over 30-years-old be registered as such, though, and the owner can choose to register them under the same rules as standard cars.
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Chairman Stéphane Valeri has appointed Monegasque Albert Manzone to the position of general manager as part of a major shakeup under his tenure.
It is all part of the former president of the National Council’s plan to “strengthen the effectiveness of the governance of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer group”, according to a statement by Monaco’s largest employer. “Chairman Stéphane Valeri has decided to appoint Albert Manzone to the position of general manager, effective 12th April.”
Albert Manzone is a 59-year-old Monegasque citizen who has managed a variety of international companies in various fields. A specialist in operational organisation and growth strategies, he has participated in the success of world-class brands such as PepsiCo, Davidoff and Novartis.
He attained a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University in Chicago and graduated in International Business from the Sorbonne (Paris).
He will be responsible, under the authority of Stéphane Valeri, for all operations of the company, in particular Operations (Games, Hotels, Restaurants, Marine Spas and Entertainment), Finance, Marketing and Digital, IT and Human Resources.
The appointment of a new general manager forms part of the new management team, which recently saw the arrival of Virginie Cotta as Secretary General in charge of legal matters, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), institutional and strategic partnerships, heritage and real estate.
Pascal Camillia, current Director of Operations, has been entrusted with the strategic position of Director of International Development.
“For the first time in the history of the company, the four most important executives, namely the chairman, the managing director, the general secretary and the director of international development, are of Monegasque nationality,” said SBM in the statement.
The appointments are part of the Group’s reorganisation strategy, which will continue in the coming weeks with the arrival of the future Chief Financial Officer, Marketing Director and IT Director, from major international companies.
