I hope you all are doing well and staying safe during this pandemic.

I’m not used to being away from the courts for this long. It’s almost like what happens when you’re dealing with an injury, but I’m not actually hurt.

The good thing is I’m holding up well. My spirits are good. Luckily everyone in my family is healthy. My grandparents are good, everyone is healthy. I’m happy about that. But I know it’s not the same for all the families out there, unfortunately, especially for grandparents and older people.

I haven’t slowed down on my fitness, and I am keeping up with my routines. As tennis players, we don’t have many months to train and to get better physically, so I’m taking this time to do that. I can stay active and keep getting better, which is good. There’s never a day when you can’t improve somehow. In every aspect of my life, personal or professional, I try to do things better and move forward in the right direction.

I’m also making sure I take enough time to rest and spend time with my family. My days have been busy, that’s for sure.

Our family rarely has opportunities to be together for such an extended period because of my career. It’s probably going to go on for weeks and months more, so it’s good to feel like it’s back in the day when I was a kid, spending time with my sister and parents.

We’re playing board games, having long discussions. Usually I’d need to go to sleep early because I have a match or training the next day. Now since I’m doing things on my own schedule and I can create more time, we are able to gather for longer dinners, and board games. I’ve been playing some Scrabble with my sister and mom, so that’s good, and it’s definitely bringing out my competitive side.

My sister beat me by one point the last time we played and that was pretty frustrating! Even though I’m not on court, I need to find a way to be competitive in some part of my life. I beat my mom by a few points the other day, so the games have been pretty tight. It’s been a lot of fun.

I’ve been able to reflect a bit on the first few months of the season, what I would do differently and what I would not do differently; what I’ve been good with, and not as good. I’ve had time to call my coaches and analyse a few matches, which is also keeping me busy. But at the same time, I try not to look at the past too much. I like to stay patient and focus on what I do every day to get better.

It’s a crazy time, and I think everyone is realising that the world is taking a break. It’s kind of a forced break for us. We’re pushing our world to the limit, and now with how fast the virus has spread, we’re seeing that a problem in one country is everyone’s problem.

I think everyone is realising that it’s a time to stay apart, stay home, but also to unite in our actions. Whatever we do from now on is going to affect everyone else’s lives. It’s not just governments that are realising this, it’s everybody.

This virus is affecting everyone. We’re all facing the same problem. We have to face it all together as one world united, and hopefully this will bring everyone together.

– as told to Andrew Eichenholz

Thomas Muster dug deep in the 1995 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final, while Boris Becker considers it one of the toughest losses of his career.

Muster had barely been able to complete his semi-final victory over Andrea Gaudenzi, the current ATP Chairman, the day before, suffering from fatigue, dehydration and a lack of sugar in his blood. But after 10 hours’ sleep and a doctor’s green light, Muster extended his clay-court winning streak to 22 matches after recovering from a two-sets-to-love deficit against Becker in the final.

Muster, the 1992 champion, saved two match points in the fourth set of a 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(6), 6-0 victory over three hours and 16 minutes.

“I don’t know how I won the match,” said Muster, afterwards. “After what happened yesterday, I didn’t think I could be able to play today. I would like to thank the medical service that got me ready to play.”

Becker led 6/4 in the fourth set tie-break, double faulting on his first match point and hitting a forehand into the net on the second. But his Austrian opponent fought back to capture his 20th red dirt title since 1990.

“I was feeling confident,” said Becker, who committed 82 unforced errors. “I was risking a lot on my second serve all week. At that moment I had a gut feeling to risk it on my second serve. I had all the chances in the world. But he didn’t give up.”

Unfortunately for former Monte Carlo resident Becker, who also appeared in the 1989 and 1991 finals, he finished his career without a clay-court crown. Muster rose to No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings on 12 February 1996.

There are few finer sights on the ATP Tour than looking out from the Art Deco clubhouse on a cloudless day at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, perched on top of the glistening Mediterranean, where the beautiful people — and their grand yachts in the near distance — come to be seen in early Spring. If you happen to be present at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on a Wednesday afternoon, shortly after diners have taken lunch on the terrace, you can close your eyes and listen to the roar of the galleries as Rafael Nadal steps onto Court Central for the first time.

It is where Zeljko Franulovic, the vastly experienced Tournament Director since 2005, takes great pride in welcoming the tennis world, and where Nadal, for an incredible 11 of the past 14 years, has shook the hand of His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco as the champion on the final day. “Rafa and the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters will go down in the history books as a very special and unique relationship, between the player and the tournament – simple as that,” Franulovic told ATPTour.com.

“After having won the event for the eighth straight year in 2012, it was obvious that Monte-Carlo was turning into a success story for Rafa, to put it mildly. Since he won his first event in 2005, the year I first became the Tournament Director, it was sort of a success story for me too. I said to Rafa, half-jokingly, in the locker room that year, during a rain delay, ‘Hey Rafa, it seems to me that our destinies are linked. As long as you keep winning, I should be okay as well. I count on you to win this event, otherwise I get fired!’”

The 72-year-old Franulovic can only smile over the influence of Nadal, who, when the ATP Tour looked to restructure the calendar and trim the number of Masters 1000 tournaments from nine to eight in 2007, became one of the most vocal to protect the status of Monte-Carlo. “What’s more important than his 11 titles, is his personality,” says Franulovic. His image as a sports personality, as a champion. It’s not just his presence around the Country Club, whether playing or practising, but it’s his huge respect and attachment to the tournament. Having such a champion adds to the prestige of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, or when people watch his press conferences, it’s the best publicity a tournament can have. Because when the tournament really needed player support in 2007 not to be downgraded, he was one of the most vocal to protect the Masters 1000 status.”

While the ambiance of the Monte Carlo tournament week is centred on tennis, when the world’s best players find their clay feet in a picturesque setting, there is also the Gala, La Grande Nuit de Tennis or the Players’ Revue, founded by Gloria Butler more than 70 years ago, and a huge success to this day. In 2006, the organisers decided to promote the tournament for the first time in the heart of Monaco, live on television. Featuring Nadal, the defending champion, and then World No. 1 Roger Federer, it remains one of Franulovic’s favourite memories.

“I will never forget it, as it was the first one, the perfect choreography in front of the Hôtel de Paris, a mini tennis court and the Monte Carlo Casino in the background,” recalls Franulovic. “Rafa and Roger were supposed to arrive in this beautiful, vintage convertible, a Mercedes, when the company was a Tour sponsor. It was a unique model in the world, but difficult to drive. When we found out that neither Roger or Rafa could drive it, we started to panic as we’d imagined Roger or Rafa behind the wheel driving to the Casino Square with the TV and photographers.

“We lost 15-20 minutes trying to find a solution and we ended up having a local Mercedes rep driving the car. It broke our choreography and caused confusion, significant delays to appear on this mini tennis court. When Roger and Rafa arrived, guess what? Rafa did not have his racquet. So his PR agent [Benito Perez-Barbadillo, who was then working for the ATP], had to jump onto his scooter and rushed back to the hotel. He must have broken the Formula 1 record, but he got the racquet back. That lost us another 15 minutes. Another delay, but it makes me laugh. It was a lesson that you can never plan to the last detail.”

Franulovic, the player, won the tournament by beating the likes of Ilie Nastase and Manuel Orantes in 1970, the year he also reached the Roland Garros Final. A right shoulder injury ended his peak performance days only two years later, and, during his long rehabilitation, he went on to complete a law degree in Split over five years. He later began a long career in tennis management, which included nine editions as Tournament Director of the season-ending championships [now named Nitto ATP Finals], when it was held in Frankfurt and Hanover. It is his mixed background, which also includes stints as ATP Marketing Director and then Executive Vice President, Europe, that has helped Franulovic develop the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters over the past 15 years.

“Our venue has improved, the different player areas and facilities, locker rooms, medical services, restaurants, interview rooms,” says Franulovic, who has a small full-time support staff and 800 people working during the ATP Masters 1000 tournament. “We’ve one of the best hotels on the ATP Tour, so I have always made sure to improve and satisfy player needs. We need to attract them to come to Monaco, but to also return the next year. Being a player helped me, as I knew what the players wanted. I came from a solid background as a player, and a tournament background, ATP administration, ATP Finals director.

“Monte Carlo has always been mine, and many other players’ favourite tournament. In those times, in the 1970s, we did not have 60-plus events to play. We now sometimes have three events to play in a single week. I remember waiting impatiently for Monte Carlo to begin. Arriving on the French Riviera, seeing the sunshine, Mediterranean weather, sand, and a bit of glitz and glamour, which Monaco is famous for. In short, Monte Carlo was not only a fantastic place to play as a player, it was the place to be in April.”

Due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the 2020 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters will not proceed as scheduled.

A little more than 12 months ago ago, Spain’s Nicolas Almagro ended one chapter of his life in order to focus on family duties. Speaking from his hometown of Murcia, during the COVID-19 global pandemic, the former World No. 9 talks about his post-playing life.

How are you coping with quarantine?
Very well, relaxed at home with the two children [Nico and Leo]. We’re fine, learning things, and above all, respecting the rules of confinement so that we can go outside as soon as possible.

It’s now been a year since you announced your retirement…
Now I have a peaceful life; a family life with my wife and my children. But also, as much as possible, I try to help at tournaments like Acapulco, where I went to join the team. I’m also doing my bit for a series of players who have asked me to help them make it as professionals.

At the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco you were able to enjoy a different outlook on tennis.
Yes, I spoke to Raul Zurutuza, the Tournament Director, and I was commenting on matches, helping with sponsors… It was fun.

In addition to tournaments, we mustn’t forget you are helping young players with their games.
I’m helping three US players between 15 and 18 years of age, with the intention of helping them progress. They contacted me to work together and I liked the idea. I decided to start with them, but the current situation we are going through means we haven’t been able to get the project going yet.

What is it you miss the most about the ATP Tour?
The adrenaline of competition. You go from one hundred to zero and that is probably the thing you miss the most. It’s not something I think about too much though, I have a new adrenaline now, which is learning to educate my two kids and I’m pretty busy with that.

Your routine has changed completely.
You miss the travelling, because every week we would go from one place to another and you miss that. But before I couldn’t be at home for more than two weeks in a row and now I can. Also, I’m watching my children grow up, helping at home… It’s a different kind of life that I hope to enjoy just as much as my career in sport.

When you sit down with friends and reminisce about stories from the tour, which is the one that comes up most?
What we remember are the moments we have shared together: the three Roland Garros quarter-finals with Rafa [Nadal] and the [2012] final of the Davis Cup in Prague… These are the moments that they were lucky to experience close up, and they always say that if they didn’t know me they would probably never have seen it.

You will also provide role model for your children to follow at home…
It will take a while longer with them, because they are still very small. But I’m sure that in the future they’ll ask, and with my wife I’ll be able to show them what their Dad did in his playing career.

Would you like to see them on the court some day?
I would like them to be happy. I’ll be by their side being their father, supporting them 100 per cent in everything I can, and, if they decide to be tennis players, I will welcome it. I will try to help, but it won’t be me who is 100 per cent running their career. They will have their coach and their teacher at first. You have to be patient, and if they want to be tennis players then they can be. But I will support them equally in whatever they want to do.

Even though it is impossible to go back, were you satisfied when you retired, or do you have any regrets?
I left very satisfied. I retired at the time I wanted to. I didn’t feel fit enough to play anymore. I decided to step aside. I had a very successful career. Could it have been better? Of course. Could it have been worse? That too. It was my way of living my life, of enjoying myself and I think that, in the end, I achieved much more than I ever dreamed of.

Your favourite players are all back at home, but they’re finding plenty of ways to stay active. From Novak Djokovic’s gymnastic skills, to John Isner’s trip down memory lane, find out how the biggest names in tennis are keeping busy.

Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, called on fans to take an acro yoga challenge.

#HappyEaster everyone! Awaiting our Orthodox Christian Easter to arrive with plenty of time for new challenges ?… @jelenadjokovic and I decided to challenge you guys and our @novakfoundation community to try this acro yoga position this week… pic.twitter.com/AkCqZBo4PB

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) April 12, 2020

Isner reassured his followers that the lockdown feels like it’s moving slowly for everyone.

.@nmahut ? pic.twitter.com/hYkPVaQPaI

— John Isner (@JohnIsner) April 11, 2020

Marin Cilic took time to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Happy Easter to all celebrating today! I hope you are still able to celebrate with your loved ones, however that may look this year. ????? pic.twitter.com/0A9NXJx7zU

— Marin Cilic (@cilic_marin) April 12, 2020

Nick Kyrgios showed off his new sleeve.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Kobe and the king with me forever & some Jordan 1’s ? @dseeart

A post shared by NK (@k1ngkyrg1os) on Apr 12, 2020 at 8:03pm PDT

Yasutaka Uchiyama didn’t even take Easter Sunday off from working on his fitness.

お家自転車トレーニング?‍♂️#気分はツールドフランス pic.twitter.com/k9jGeEzVVz

— 内山靖崇 / Yasutaka UCHIYAMA (@yasutaka0805) April 12, 2020

Leander Paes’ frying pan challenge led to a reunion with his former doubles partner, Mahesh Bhupathi.

For all those who wanted to see us playing together… ??? @Maheshbhupathi pic.twitter.com/i1gmdfbDAZ

— Leander Paes (@Leander) April 12, 2020

Felix Auger-Aliassime broke out his hockey gear.

The crossover we didn’t know we needed… @felixtennis showing off his ? stickhandling skills ?

Will we be seeing Felix at the @Beijing2022 Winter Olympics? ?? pic.twitter.com/7aUOnhbt8Z

— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) April 13, 2020

Todd Woodbridge joined the kids on TikTok.

I’m not sure I’m progressing as fast as my coach @beau_woodbridge was hoping? #isolation #tap #laugh #havingfun at #home final routine to be unveiled at some point! pic.twitter.com/TH6o4nfkwy

— Todd Woodbridge (@toddwoodbridge) April 12, 2020

Fabrice Santoro raised the stakes in trick shots by also using his feet.

Come on guys. You can do it ?
Send me your videos ? pic.twitter.com/cCTOuPHfVA

— Fabrice Santoro (@fabsantoro72) April 12, 2020

Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who has been isolating in Florida in recent weeks, is reading plenty of books, watching movies and attempting to stay fit during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The 23-year-old, who has adhered to a vegan diet for the past two years, caught up with ATPTour.com this week about his food choices and favourite meals.

What made you go vegan? Was it a result of tests or a recommendation?
It was a little bit of recommendation, but also watching programmes about food. I started to feel pretty good, with more energy, so I continued with it.

What is your go-to meal to cook during the stay-at-home order?
With my cooking skills, it’s pasta, with some veggies, tomato sauce and maybe some nuts. That would be for lunch.

What foods would you eat in Poland that you can’t find anywhere else?
It’s pretty easy to find all sorts of foods, but I do like Indian, Thai food, Pad Thai, which I’ve eaten for a couple of days. It’s still okay to get food where I am in Florida, maybe with the exception of toilet paper, which is pretty tough.

What unhealthy foods would you like to eat but you don’t?
I’m not really a fan of sweets, but I do love ice cream. There are some vegan options too.

Aside from pasta, what other food do you like to cook?
I eat some Burritos, with some veggies inside, and guacamole.

What’s your favourite fruit?
I really like strawberries, I think they taste great.

Are there any foods you disliked as a kid that you eat now to help your diet, or just because you like it?
I think when I was a kid, I didn’t like salad at all and I didn’t like most of the veggies. Now I’ve got used to them and they taste good.

What do you typically eat during a match? Anything particularly interesting?
I’d probably eat something two hours before a match, but it’s tougher when they play best-of-five as you never know when you may start. You can eat snacks, but I eat rice, veggies and tomato sauce before a match. During the match, I eat bananas and dates that give me energy.

Which city on the ATP Tour has the best food and why?
I think Shanghai is very good. They have catering from Austria, it’s really great and you can order whatever you want.

Which three heroes/celebrities would you invite to dinner and why?
It would be nice to have dinner with Roger [Federer], Robert Lewandowski, a Polish footballer, and I’m struggling for a third person…!

Jack Sock’s plan to reunite with Vasek Pospisil on the doubles court are on hold for now, but the pair teamed up for this week’s episode of Tennis United, set to air on Friday, and discussed Pospisil’s social media prank on the American.

Pospisil took over the ATP Tour Instagram account for last week’s episode, unbeknownst to his fellow players, and trolled several of them with snarky comments in their direct messages. After messaging Sock to ask if ATP Media could attend the American’s December wedding to Laura Little, Pospisil then urged him to post less about his relationship.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Well, we can’t say he didn’t warn us ? Swipe to see what happens when @vasek.pospisil goes rogue on our Instagram ?

A post shared by ATP Tour (@atptour) on Apr 9, 2020 at 2:53pm PDT

“I was genuinely upset,” Sock said, smiling. “I thought that maybe [ATP Media] was having fun and they’re bored. The wedding thing… That was never going to fly with me. I was just being nice. Then I read the next part and was fuming! How can the ATP tell me what to post?”

Sock has been staying at home and practising social distancing, but admitted that the lockdown was bad timing for his comeback that had quickly been gaining momentum. After an injury-filled 2019 season, the American returned to action in February and beat defending champion Radu Albot in Delray Beach, then finished runner-up at an ATP Challenger Tour event in Indian Wells.

“For me, it’s even more frustrating because I basically had a quarantine all of last year,” Sock said. “I rehabbed my [right] thumb and then had the disc problem in my back at the end of last year, so I didn’t play much at all. I was very hungry and excited and I think it showed in my past couple of tournaments. I was getting my form back and felt like my old self. It stings, but obviously health and safety comes first.”

When action does resume on the ATP Tour, Sock vowed to be ready. He’s still keeping up with his fitness sessions while maintaining social distancing and intends to be in top shape for his first tournament back.

“I like to get a sweat in and have to feel like I did something. There’s a massive soccer field near me where I’ve been going to most days, getting runs in and doing some medicine ball stuff,” Sock said. “I had some good momentum and felt like I was getting into the right shape towards the end of my past couple of tournaments, so I’m definitely keeping up with it because I don’t want to lose that.”

Lacoste, a long-term partner of the Nitto ATP Finals, is doing its part in the battle against COVID-19.

Since the middle of March, nearly 100 employees from the company’s French factories have volunteered to work on the manufacturing of 145,000 washable and reusable masks until 30 April. Some of these masks are intended to supply local shopkeepers and enable them to protect themselves in their daily lives and another part will be made available to the French government in the fight against COVID-19.

Dozens of Lacoste volunteers have also mobilised at the company’s San Juan, Argentina factory, where they are making gowns and masks.

“This mobilisation fully honours our company and reveals the commitment, courage and solidarity of these everyday heroes who work to protect us,” Lacoste wrote in a statement. “Every gesture counts to defeat this pandemic, and a big thank you to our heroes.” 

The Truist Atlanta Open announced that it is joining with partner, CIGNA, to feed some of Metro Atlanta’s frontline healthcare workers at Northside Hospital Cherokee on behalf of GF Sports, the Truist Atlanta Open, CIGNA and Waffle House.

The Waffle House Food Truck will visit Northside Hospital Cherokee on Tuesday, 14 April from 10am-2pm to feed the daytime shift and on Wednesday, 15 April, from 8pm-12am for the night shift.

“Northside Hospital and Waffle House are two of our key partners, not only during the nine days of the Truist Atlanta Open, but throughout the year,” said Eddie Gonzalez, Truist Atlanta Open Tournament Director. “They, like many others, are being affected by COVID-19.”

The Truist Atlanta Open and its partners wanted to do something for those right in their own community, so bringing an Atlanta institution like Waffle House out seemed like a perfect fit.

“We’re not just a tennis tournament, we’re a major community event,” added Gonzalez. “We have tremendous community partners, and they have stepped up in critical times. It’s our way of doing something to help support Northside Hospital and those hero frontline healthcare workers, along with our great partner Waffle House who is being hit through this as well , with all of their stores being closed other than take out.”

With the merger of BB&T and SunTrust Bank, the BB&T Atlanta Open has now become the Truist Atlanta Open as the popular Midtown Atlanta event celebrates its 10th Anniversary. This year’s event is scheduled from 25 July to 2 August.

In addition, the tournament’s charity partner, Giving Kitchen, was one of nine charitable causes to receive a $15,000 ATP ACES for Charity grant this year. The ATP 250 first began working with Giving Kitchen in 2017.

Giving Kitchen provides emergency assistance to food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources, with the goal of helping foster a food service community in which crisis is met with compassion and care, providing direct grants to food service workers based on financial need and a qualifying crisis. The ATP ACES For Charity grant will provide a minimum of eight crisis grants, providing peace of mind and stability to a food service worker and their family.

Since the inception of the series in 1990, only six men have won 11 or more ATP Masters 1000 titles. One of those men, Rafael Nadal, has remarkably achieved that feat at a single event.

The Spaniard has won the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 11 times, matching former World No. 1 Pete Sampras’ haul across all Masters 1000 tournaments with his dominant reign in the Principality.

Since his tournament debut as a 16-year-old in 2003, when he defeated reigning Roland Garros champion Albert Costa to reach the third round, Nadal has consistently produced his best tennis at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. The Mallorcan, who has won 71 of his 76 matches at the event, won an Open-Era record eight successive titles from 2005 to 2012 and a further three straight crowns from 2016 to 2018.

The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters was set for this week, but due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, this year’s tournament will not proceed as scheduled.

ATPTour.com looks back at each of Nadal’s 11 title runs in Monte-Carlo.

2005: The Reign Begins
Two years after stunning Costa on his Monte-Carlo debut, Nadal captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 trophy in the Principality. After recovering from down a set in the semi-finals against Richard Gasquet, who had defeated Roger Federer, Nadal met defending champion Guillermo Coria in the championship match.

Coria ended Nadal’s maiden appearance in Monte-Carlo with a straight-sets victory in 2003, but Nadal had improved his game significantly since that meeting. The Spaniard battled to a 6-3, 6-1, 0-6, 7-5 win after three hours and nine minutes to claim what was the biggest title of his career.

2006: A Classic Final
After a breakthrough 2005 season, Nadal returned to Monte-Carlo the following year as World No. 2 and reigning Roland Garros champion. The Spaniard moved past Coria and Gaston Gaudio to book a final clash against World No. 1 Roger Federer, whom he had beaten in three of their past four ATP Head2Head clashes. Nadal successfully defended an ATP Tour title for the first time in a three-hour, 50-minute classic, triumphing 6-2, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-6(5).

2007: Hattrick Complete
After losing to Federer in the 2006 Wimbledon final and the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals, Nadal earned the opportunity to once again face the Swiss on his preferred surface in the 2007 Monte-Carlo championship match. Nadal, who did not drop a set en route to the final, continued his dominant display against Federer with a break of serve in each set to lift the trophy for the third straight year.

2008: A Trilogy Completed
Following straight-sets wins against Top 5 players David Ferrer and Nikolay Davydenko, Nadal met Federer at the Monte-Carlo Country Club for the third straight year with the trophy on the line.

Nadal snatched the opening set with a late break, but Federer threatened to force a decider after racing out to a 4-0 lead in the second set. Three-time defending champion Nadal battled back though, taking the title with another late service break to complete an impressive trio of final victories against his rival in the Principality. Nadal and Federer have not met in Monte-Carlo since that day.

2009: A New Chapter
Competing as World No. 1 in Monte-Carlo for the first time, Nadal advanced to his fifth straight final at the tournament without dropping a set. In the championship match, he faced Novak Djokovic for the first time in Monte-Carlo.

Djokovic had already beaten Nadal at each of the Masters 1000 events in North America, but the Spaniard had won each of their previous six meetings on clay, losing one total set. Djokovic doubled that figure by forcing a deciding set in Monte-Carlo, but Nadal raised his game to clinch his fifth title in the Principality. The match marked the beginning of a new chapter in their rivalry, with the pair meeting on three further occasions at the tournament.

2010: Ruthless Rafa
When Nadal ends his career, he may look back at the 2010 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters as the most dominant tournament of his career. The Spaniard entered the event on an 11-month trophy drought, dating back to his 2009 Internazionali BNL d’Italia victory. But he only dropped 14 games across five matches to capture his sixth successive Monte-Carlo crown. Nadal beat Thiemo de Bakker, Michael Berrer and the Spanish trio of Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco to earn the trophy.

2011: The Best Of Spain
For the second straight year, the Monte-Carlo final was contested by the top two Spaniards in the FedEx ATP Rankings. Nadal, who survived a three-set semi-final against Andy Murray, met in-form World No. 6 Ferrer for the title.

Ferrer had dropped just 17 games to reach his second Masters 1000 final, but Nadal battled past the man who ended his bid for a non-calendar Grand Slam three months earlier at the Australian Open with a 6-4, 7-5 victory.

2012: Ending The Streak
After straight-sets wins against Stan Wawrinka and Gilles Simon, Nadal entered the 2012 Monte-Carlo final seeking to end a seven-match losing streak against World No. 1 Djokovic. Meeting for the first time since their epic five-hour, 53-minute Australian Open final that January, Nadal charged past Djokovic 6-3, 6-1 in 79 minutes to lift an Open Era record eighth straight title at a single ATP Tour event.

2016: Back In The Winners’ Circle
Four years after picking up his eighth title in Monte-Carlo, Nadal returned to the opening clay-court Masters 1000 event of the year aiming to lift his first title in eight months. The Spaniard moved past 22-year-old Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka before rallying from a set down to overcome Andy Murray in the semi-finals.

With support from French fans in the stands, his final opponent, Gael Monfils, showcased his incredible shot-making ability and defended well to force Nadal into a deciding set after more than two hours. But Nadal continued to trust his baseline game and wore his opponent down to clinch his ninth Monte-Carlo trophy.

2017: History Maker
After a first-round scare against Kyle Edmund, Nadal advanced to his 11th Monte-Carlo final with victories against Alexander Zverev, Diego Schwartzman and David Goffin. For the third time, a fellow Spaniard awaited Nadal in the final. Albert Ramos-Vinolas secured three-set victories against World No. 1 Andy Murray, Marin Cilic and Lucas Pouille to reach his first Masters 1000 championship match.

Like Verdasco and Ferrer before him, Ramos-Vinolas had no answer to the Mallorcan’s game on Court Rainier III. Nadal served with confidence throughout the 76-minute encounter to win 6-1, 6-3 and move clear of Guillermo Vilas with a record-breaking 50th tour-level clay court title.

2018: Dominant Display
In 2018, no player won more than five games against Nadal in Monte-Carlo. The Spaniard breezed through the draw, claiming wins against Aljaz Bedene, Karen Khachanov, Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov to reach his 12th final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.

In the championship match, Nadal broke Kei Nishikori on four occasions to become the first man in the Open Era to win a single event 11 times. It was the fifth time Nadal won the tournament without dropping a set (2008-’10, ’12), which extended his career-best set-winning streak on clay to 36. Nadal’s sets won streak reached 50, before Thiem beat the Spaniard in the 2018 Mutua Madrid Open quarter-finals.