Geneva, 6 April 2023 – With the clay-court season underway, the tennis world’s attention will soon turn to the iconic Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters – one of the most coveted trophies in men’s tennis. Staged from 9-16 April, the tournament is the first of the ATP Masters 1000 series to be played on clay and one which Rolex has been the Official Timekeeper of since 2006. For more than 40 years, Rolex has been an integral and loyal partner of tennis, during which it has built a legacy of championing excellence, helping to maintain the sport’s traditions and supporting its most prestigious tournaments.

First held in 1897, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is steeped in rich history and boasts a timeless affinity with elegance and style. An elite field of men’s players will contest this year’s edition at the picturesque setting of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The distinct ochre surface demands exceptional precision and resilience to manage the high bounce, slower pace of play and long rallies. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful tournaments on the men’s circuit and one at which Rolex Testimonees have an impressive history of success.

The 2023 tournament will see reigning champion and Rolex Testimonee Stéfanos Tsitsipás strive for his third successive title, having successfully defended his title in 2022. By winning last year’s final, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), the Greek claimed his second ATP Masters 1000 crown and became just the sixth player to win back-to-back Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters titles in the Open Era. In doing so, the 24-year-old joined fellow Rolex Testimonee and legend of the men’s game, Björn Borg, who achieved the same feat by triumphing in 1979 and 1980. Reflecting on his success at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Björn Borg said: “The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters is a very prestigious event and one of the biggest clay court tournaments of the season. It means a lot to play and win at Monte-Carlo which is why you see all the top players in the draw. I played my first big final here in 1973 and since then I have had a lot of victories, so this tournament has always been special to me.”

In 2021, Tsitsipás showed his formidable skills on clay when winning his first Monte-Carlo crown and maiden ATP Masters 1000 title without dropping a set. Speaking about the Rolex Monte-Carlos Masters, Stéfanos Tsitsipás said: “I love playing on clay. I grew up on the surface and Monaco is where I live. I love playing in France and Monaco because the crowd is so knowledgeable and there is so much tennis tradition.” Tsitsipás enters this year’s tournament in fine form after an impressive start to the 2023 season, having reached the final of the Australian Open in January.

Several other members of the Rolex family will be seeking to hone their clay-court skills ahead of Roland-Garros in Paris, the only Grand Slam^® tournament played on clay, including Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz. Having both reached the quarter-finals of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters in 2022, they will be vying to compete for the coveted trophy and reinforce their reputations as two of the finest talents in the men’s game.

Fellow Testimonee Holger Rune will also be looking to showcase his elite athleticism and skill on the clay, having reached the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros in 2022. Rune is already the highest-ranked male Dane in ATP Tour Rankings history and notably won the Rolex Paris Masters in November 2022, becoming the first player on record to beat five top-10 opponents in the same event outside of the Nitto ATP Finals.

Rolex’s relationship with tennis dates back to 1978 when it partnered with The Championships, Wimbledon – the sport’s oldest and most revered tournament. Since then, the Swiss watchmaker’s association with tennis has grown exponentially and extended to all levels of the sport, providing unwavering support for players, the organizations that administer the game, the four Grand Slam tournaments and the finest events on the calendar, including all major events in the men’s and women’s game and the leading international team competitions.