Star-studded line-up confirmed for Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2025

11/03/2025

With just weeks to go until the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Tournament Director David Massey has confirmed that nine of the world’s top 10 players will compete on the iconic clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club from 5th to 13th April.

Notable entrants include Germany’s Alexander Zverev (No. 2), Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3), and the United States’ Taylor Fritz (No. 4). Norway’s Casper Ruud (No. 5), Daniil Medvedev (No. 6), Andrey Rublev (No. 7), Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 9), and Australia’s Alex de Minaur (No. 10) will also compete. The only absentee from the top 10 is world number one Jannik Sinner, serving a suspension from 15th February.

French tennis fans will have plenty to cheer for, with homegrown talents such as Ugo Humbert, Arthur Fils, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Gaël Monfils, and Alexandre Muller all set to compete. The singles draw will feature 56 players, with seven qualifiers and four wild cards completing the line-up, while 28 teams will battle for the doubles title.

In total, 42 of the Top 45 players will be competing on the clay courts in Monaco.

The line-up was revealed during a press conference in Paris on Tuesday 11th March, with Tournament Director David Massey praising the strong player field and extending his gratitude to Rolex and the other partners supporting the event.

The tournament, which attracted over 148,000 spectators last year, continues to grow in global stature, with millions of viewers tuning in via Eurosport, France Télévisions, and other international broadcasters.

An exciting year for fans and players

This year’s tournament also marks the introduction of several major developments, including the renaming of Court No. 2 as Court Elizabeth-Ann de Massy in honour of a key figure in Monaco’s tennis history. The venue itself has been expanded by 35%, incorporating an exclusive new Players’ Village at the Monte-Carlo Beach Club. In a historic first, the tournament will implement Electronic Line Calling Live technology, replacing traditional line judges, and introduce a Video Review system for disputed calls.

“With its exceptional setting and breathtaking sea views, we wanted to offer players an even more attractive and functional environment,” said Massey. “This expansion marks an important step in the tournament’s development and is part of a long-term vision for future editions. The fans remain at the heart of our priorities. With maximum seating capacity, we have sought to improve their comfort and ease of movement around the venue.”

The 118th edition of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will officially begin with the draw at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, the tournament’s official hotel, on Friday 4th April at 5:00pm, where defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas will be in attendance, before the first weekend kicks off with a mini tennis exhibition at Mareterra on Saturday, offering children a chance to engage with the sport, followed by a dedicated children’s day on Sunday that will provide a unique immersion into the world of the tournament, which runs from 5th to 13th April as the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the European clay season.

See also:

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2025: AI officiating, luxury expansion, and a tribute to Elizabeth-Ann de Massy

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

A weekend of mixed fortunes for AS Monaco Rugby

by: Stephanie Horsman

11/03/2025

AS Monaco Rugby experienced a mix of emotions in their matches against Jacou Montpellier Nord over the weekend, with the first team celebrating a hard-earned victory, while the Équipe Espoirs faced a tough defeat. Despite the contrasting results, both teams showed determination in challenging conditions, reflecting the club’s ongoing growth and commitment to promoting the sport in the Principality.

This past weekend, both teams travelled to Jacou Montpellier Nord’s home turf for a series of matches played in challenging weather conditions on Sunday, 9th March.

The Équipe Première, the AS Monaco Rugby first squad, delivered a determined performance, battling their way to a well-earned 16-12 victory over their counterparts at Jacou Montpellier Nord. The win not only highlighted their resilience but also secured their return to second place in the championship standings, with 58 points and two consecutive wins under their belts.

Unfortunately, the second team, the Équipe Espoirs, had a more difficult encounter. Despite their best efforts, they suffered a heavy 10-52 defeat to Jacou Montpellier Nord’s second squad. While the loss is disappointing, the team is already focused on regrouping and bouncing back stronger in their upcoming fixtures.

Since its revival 11 years ago, AS Monaco Rugby has grown into a modern, well-structured institution with a commitment to fostering passion for the sport. With over 300 members, the association boasts a rugby school for children aged five and up, which encompasses an Under-15s team, two young cadet and junior teams, and an ‘Oldies’ team that brings together players from 17 to 77 years old, as well as the Équipe Première and Équipe Espoirs.

AS Monaco Rugby has worked hard to build its reputation and recruit the best players with a passion for the sport.

A statement shared on the team’s website reads: “Building on the impact of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups, as well as stability in the management of means and resources, we have reached a new milestone by recreating the senior section (Équipe Première). This senior team now plays in Honneur, on the threshold of the federal level.”

The club’s state-of-the-art facilities, located just a stone’s throw from the Principality in Beausoleil, have also become a source of pride for its members.

See more: New AS Monaco Rugby clubhouse takes pride of place at Stade Prince Héréditaire Jacques

With a dedicated team of qualified coaches, AS Monaco Rugby continues to provide players with top-tier training and development. The club’s vision remains clear: to build a thriving rugby community and fill the stands with enthusiastic supporters eager to witness unforgettable matches.

Read related:

A new season begins at AS Monaco Rugby with ambitions for promotion to Fédérale 1

Photo source: AS Monaco Rugby

Monaco Basket Association makes triumphant return to Ligue Féminine 2

by: Niki Borisova

11/03/2025

After securing promotion to Ligue Féminine 2 in front of a proud Prince Albert II, the women’s Monaco Basket Association now sets its sights on the Trophée Coupe de France.

Monaco Basket Association (MBA) has secured promotion to Ligue Féminine 2 (LF2) following a decisive victory against Ambitions Girondines over the weekend at the Salle Gaston Médecin court in the Stade Louis II. The win, witnessed by nearly 1,400 spectators, including Prince Albert II and members of AS Monaco Basketball, held added significance for the Principality’s leading women’s basketball team, as it took place on International Women’s Day, Saturday 8th March.

The 77-53 victory marked MBA’s 16th consecutive win in the Nationale Féminine 1 (NF1) league, keeping the team undefeated this season. The result, combined with their recent win against S.I. Graffenstaden, confirms MBA’s return to LF2—a division they last competed in two seasons ago—with five matches remaining in the championship.

Club President Éric Elena described the evening as an emotional milestone.

“Playing in this venue, in front of the Sovereign Prince and such a large crowd, on this symbolic Women’s Rights Day, and achieving promotion—I’m at a loss for words,” he said after the game.

*Prince Albert II was among the spectators at the important game. Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department*

Founded 15 years ago, MBA has established itself as an ambitious, go-getting team within French women’s basketball, securing titles such as the Trophée Coupe de France in 2017 and 2022, and the NF2 championship in 2017. This season, the club’s ambitions have been bolstered by the support of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, which has joined as the club’s main partner alongside the Monaco Government.

Attention now turns to the upcoming quarter and semi-finals of the Trophée Coupe de France, scheduled for Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March. MBA is within touching distance of the final, set for Friday 25th April at the Accor Arena in Paris Bercy, a venue where the club has previously claimed two titles and reached one final.

In the NF1 championship, the team aims to complete the regular season unbeaten. The focus will then shift to facing the leader of Pool B—currently Champagne—on Saturday 17th May in Cognac for the NF1 championship title.

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo credit: © Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali.

New report reveals “slow increase” in the number of women running businesses in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman

11/03/2025

Monaco is making slow yet steady progress in achieving better gender parity in top leadership roles in the business world, according to a new report from IMSEE, particularly among sole traders and public limited companies. Nevertheless, women account for less than 30% of executive decision-making roles, indicating that there is still some way to go before women gain equal representation.

Earlier this month, IMSEE, Monaco’s official statistical agency, released a special International Women’s Day report on women in corporate governance in 2024, and the figures are telling.

Since 2015, the number of women running companies in the Principality has risen by a meagre 1.5%.

In 2024, there were 14,238 people on boards of directors or in major decision-making positions in the Principality. Of those, 4,068 were women, accounting for 28.6% of the total population of business leadership in Monaco.

Sole proprietorship was the most common business structure among female entrepreneurs, with more than a third of business owners of this type being women, according to data collected over the past 10 years. Nearly as many—29.1%—headed up limited liability companies (LLCs), although this number has declined by 0.7% over the past decade. Public limited companies were the least popular, attracting only 23.8% of women in business.

Perhaps surprisingly, the economic sector with the highest proportion of female bosses is Scientific and Technical Activities, at 29.7%, despite it not being one of the top three sectors most populated by women employees. This equates to 1,248 female executives in this field alone.

Less than a third of newly created businesses in 2024 were founded by women. Of the 989 new business registrations, only 294 (29.7%) were female-led.

Young women make their mark

On a brighter note, young women are making their mark in Monaco. Among business leaders aged 18 to 24, an impressive 44.9% were women in 2024. The 25 to 34 age group followed at 35%, while 32.5% of business leaders aged 35 to 44 were female. Representation declined slightly among older groups, with 28% of women aged 45 to 54 in leadership roles, dipping to 27.5% for those aged 55 to 64 and 23% for those 65 and older.

The average age of female corporate leaders stands at 51.2 years, compared to 53.7 for their male counterparts. Notably, over 70% of these women reside in the Principality.

French entrepreneurs are the highest nationality represented at 30.9%, followed by Monegasque women at 19.1%, with Italians rounding out the podium at 18.7%. British and Belgian women make up the majority of the rest.

Photo source: Cottonbro Studios, Pexels

How France plans to revive rural café culture by cutting red tape

by: Stephanie Horsman

11/03/2025

In a bid to breathe new life into France’s rural communities, legislators have overwhelmingly approved a bill aimed at making it easier to open cafés and bars in villages that currently do not have them. The measure, which garnered near-unanimous support in the French parliament with 156 votes in favour and just two against, will now move to the Senate for further approval.

France was once home to around 200,000 cafés, which often served as the heart of social life in towns and villages. However, between the 1960s and 2015, that number had dwindled to just 36,000, with the majority of closures occurring in rural areas, according to a report from the France Boissons industry body and the CREDOC consumer studies agency.

This decline has left many small villages without a communal meeting place, a trend believed to have contributed to social isolation and economic stagnation.

A new bill, championed by centrist lawmaker Guillaume Kasbarian, seeks to reverse this downturn by relaxing the strict regulations surrounding the establishment of new bars with Type-4 alcohol licenses, which permit the sale of spirits with more than 18% alcohol content.

“The new legislation, which would loosen strict restrictions on new bar permits to sell hard liquor, does away with an old and obsolete legal framework,” Kasbarian is quoted by France 24.

Under the current system, no new Type-4 alcohol licenses can be issued, meaning prospective bar owners must wait for an existing establishment to close before acquiring one. The new legislation would change this by allowing café owners in villages with fewer than 3,500 residents and no existing Type-4 bar to apply for a brand-new permit, subject to approval by the local mayor.

An amendment introduced by the centre-right MoDem party further expanded the bill’s scope, giving municipalities the option to approve an additional bar, rather than just one.

While it remains unclear how many villages stand to benefit from the law, France’s Association of Mayors reports that 31,000 of the country’s 35,000 municipalities fall within the population threshold set by the bill.

CONCERNS OVER CONSUMPTION

Supporters argue that reopening bars and cafés will strengthen social ties, stimulate local economies and create jobs, but despite widespread support, the bill has faced criticism from those concerned about potential health risks associated with increased alcohol consumption.

Opponents argue that rural areas often lack adequate social services to support individuals struggling with alcohol dependency. Some have questioned why the legislation prioritises Type-4 licenses instead of focusing on Type-3 permits – those that allow the sale of beer and wine.

There are also concerns that the measure could be expanded in the future, allowing larger towns and cities to introduce more spirit-selling bars.

However, proponents counter that alcohol is already easily accessible at supermarkets and that the benefits of restoring village cafés outweigh the potential downsides.

With alcohol consumption linked to approximately 49,000 deaths annually in France, according to the French health ministry, the debate over balancing cultural tradition and public health remains a key issue as the bill heads to the Senate for final approval.

Read related:

Four little-known French villages near Monaco that are worth a visit

Photo credit: Hugo Kruip, Unsplash

Beausoleil set to host A1 Padel France’s first Grand Master tournament of 2025

by: Niki Borisova

11/03/2025

Top-ranked players from around the world will be heading to Beausoleil between 21st and 30th March for the A1 Padel Tour’s first Grand Master tournament of 2025, hosted by the Tennis Padel Club of Beausoleil.

Though the event will mark the fifth tournament on the 2025 A1 Padel calendar, it is the inaugural Grand Master—the highest-level tournament on the A1 Padel Tour. It will feature 48 teams across 10 days of play and is set to attract some of the circuit’s top-ranked players, drawn by the promise of ranking points, prize money and prestige.

Owned by Monegasque entrepreneur Fabrice Pastor, the A1 Padel Tour is one of several professional circuits in the sport, each with its own players and ranking system.

Cristina Pastor, the tournament director and the head of the Tennis Padel Club of Beausoleil, says, “It is a privilege to see such elite athletes returning year after year to this French event, which we are proud to organise in Beausoleil. A strong bond of trust has developed with the players, who feel at home here.”

The competition is expected to draw significant crowds, with Pastor adding, “[The top players’] presence guarantees an incredibly high level of competition, with matches that promise to be intense and fiercely contested.”

The event will open with a P500 tournament on 20th March, a nationally sanctioned competition that will offer the winning pair a wildcard into the main draw of the Grand Master.

Pastor notes, “Beyond the title itself, the athletes will have extra motivation: securing their place to compete against the best international players on this circuit.”

The main tournament will run from 21st to 30th March, starting with the Round of 32 and culminating in the final on the last day.

Entry will be free throughout the week, but there will be a €10 charge for the final weekend. Keen fans of the sport can reserve their seats here.

Looking ahead, Pastor hints at more events later in the year, saying, “The Grand Master in Beausoleil is just the start. We are also preparing for the Monaco tournament this summer, which promises its own surprises.”

Further details about the Monaco event are expected after the conclusion of the Beausoleil tournament.

Read related:

Padel Best Village returns to Monaco with expanded program

Photo source: A1 Padel Facebook

Day: 11 March 2025