So, I decided to dive into the whole Monte Carlo tennis scene this year, the 2024 tournament. Let me tell you, it was quite the experience. I started off by doing some digging online. I found out that this thing is organized by some group called the Socit Mongasque pour l’Exploitation du Tournoi de Tennis (SMETT). Fancy name, right?
Then, I checked out the schedule on Eurosport. They had this whole “order of play” thing for each day, which was pretty handy. The tournament was set to run from April 8 to April 16, 2024, smack-dab in the middle of the clay-court season, in this swanky place along the French Riviera. Honestly, it’s one of the oldest and, from what I gathered, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the ATP circuit. No big deal, just the first Masters 1000 event on clay for the season!
I learned that the tournament director is this guy named David Massey. And get this, the lineup of players was insane! We’re talking big names like Djokovic, Sinner, Nadal, Alcaraz, Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Holger Rune. Just your average, everyday tennis superstars, you know?
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. I subscribed to Tennis TV, which is like the official streaming service for the ATP Tour. They stream every single match, both singles and doubles, live or on-demand. Watching the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in HD was pretty sweet.
The Location
- Monte Carlo Country Club: Found out that the tournament, which everyone calls the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters for some sponsorship reason, is held in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France.
- Clay Courts: It’s right next to Monaco and they play on clay courts.
- April: Figured out that it takes place every year in April.
The Points System
- Non-Mandatory Event: This tournament is a bit special. It’s a non-mandatory Masters 1000 event, so the points system is a little different.
- Counts as 500 Level: Instead of the usual points, it counts as one of a player’s 500 level tournaments. Kinda weird, but hey, who am I to judge?
Planning-wise, I had to sort out tickets, figure out where to stay, and how to get around. It was a bit of a headache, but totally worth it in the end. Watching these pros battle it out on clay, in such a beautiful setting, was an unforgettable experience. I even managed to snap some cool photos and got to chat with some fellow tennis nuts. It was a blast, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s into tennis or just looking for a unique experience. It is really an unforgettable memory for me.