Editor’s Note: ATPTour.com is resurfacing features to bring fans closer to their favourite players during the current suspension in tournament play. This story was originally published on 14 April 2019.
Ahead of the 2019 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, a select group of ATP Tour stars had the privilege of being received by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Palace. The Prince has long been an integral participant of the tournament, taking in the action every year.
On Sunday, he welcomed top seed Novak Djokovic, 11-time champion Rafael Nadal, as well as Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, David Goffin, Daniil Medvedev and Mischa Zverev. Nishikori finished runner-up last year, while Auger-Aliassime is coming off a semi-final finish at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami.
When tennis royalty meets Monaco royalty ?
ATP players had a special trip to Prince Albert II’s Palace…#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/GCG5xvOFfS
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 14, 2019
At the opening of the 113th edition of the prestigious tournament, the 11 players visited the Throne Room in the State apartments and discovered the Palace Tank, and entered the Mirror Gallery for a cocktail. Djokovic presented two balls signed by all the players present for the royal children H.S.H. Crown Prince Jacques and H.S.H. Princess Gabriella.
Nadal, who made his tournament debut in 2003, will look to add to his record haul of 11 titles in Monte-Carlo and 33 at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, while Djokovic, a two-time Monte-Carlo champion, can match the Spaniard’s Masters 1000 titles mark with victory this week in the Principality. Zverev and Indian Wells titlist Thiem are seeded third and fourth, while last year’s runner-up Nishikori returns as the fifth seed.
