Held from April 6 to 13, 2025, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters has been blending tradition, sporting excellence and elegance on the Mediterranean coast for over 125 years. Through its rich history and increasingly spectacular editions, the Monegasque tournament has established itself as a must-attend event on the ATP circuit. Here’s a look back at its prestigious origins, its highlights, and a record-breaking 2025 edition, under the triumph of Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
A tournament with a rich history
The Monte-Carlo tournament was born in 1897 in an unusual setting, to say the least : the first matches were played on courts installed atop the wine cellars of the Hôtel de Paris. From the outset, the event attracted the elite of British tennis, as well as a number of players from the United States, and became an integral part of the Côte d’Azur’s popular winter calendar.
Initially open to men’s and women’s competitions in singles, doubles and handicap categories, the tournament underwent several moves. In 1921, it took up residence on the roof of the Auto-Rivera garage in Beausoleil, with the opening of La Festa Country Club. But it was in 1925 that a major turning point came, thanks to the support of George Butler, an American businessman with a passion for tennis. He financed the creation of a major new club on the heights of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Architect Charles Letrosne designed a complex of twenty clay courts, nestling among flower-filled terraces, giving rise to the prestigious Monte-Carlo Country Club we know today, officially inaugurated in 1928.
Click here to read full article on Luxus Magazine.
Featured photo : © Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
