Prince Albert II of Monaco and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy have paid tribute to a towering figure in Monaco’s sporting history with the grand inauguration of a new tennis court at the Monte-Carlo Country Club named in honour of the late Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy. The emotional ceremony, held ahead of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, was also attended by some of the most influential and well-known stars in the world of tennis.

On 5th April, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, the daughter of the late Baroness and current President of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, joined her cousin, Prince Albert II, on the clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club to unveil a court named in tribute to the late Baroness Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, who passed away in 2020.

They were joined by 30 of the world’s finest current tennis players, who will be battling it out over the coming days in a bid to clinch the title at the finals on 13th April. Among them were icons of the sport such as Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev. Together, the players assembled on the newly dedicated court to form the initials “E.A.” in tribute to the Baroness and her enduring impact on the sport.

The late Baroness de Massy played a pivotal role in the development of tennis in the Principality. She served as Vice President of the Monte-Carlo Country Club from 1972 to 2008, before taking over as President, a role she held until her passing in 2020. From 1988, she also led the Monaco Tennis Federation, overseeing a golden era that saw the Monte-Carlo Masters rise to prominence on the ATP calendar.

Following the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, Prince Albert and Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy greeted past champions, including Novak Djokovic and three-time titleholder Stefanos Tsitsipas, who are both Monaco residents, on the newly christened court.

That same day, President de Massy guided Prince Albert through the revamped Players’ Village, a new facility designed to enhance the experience for competitors at this prestigious tournament.

To see more photographs from the ceremony, click on the images below:

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Photos credit: Axel Bastello / Palais Princier de Monaco / G.Bouvet / SMETT