Match point

Chapter 1208 Luxurious lineup
For F1, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix is ​​the race with the longest history, the most special track, and possibly the most difficult championship.

Naturally, no one wants to miss out, not only won't, but will try their best to win.

The same goes for the Monte Carlo Masters for tennis.

First, Monte Carlo opened the clay court season and officially kicked off the clay court season. The injury is the least, and it is also the beginning of adjustment.

Secondly, the competition environment in Monte Carlo is the most similar to Paris. Before going to Paris, you can adapt to the venue and climate in advance to complete the adjustment.

Thirdly, Monte Carlo is known as the vane of the French Open, not only because the venue and environment are similar, but also because it is known as the blessed place of the French Open——

Every year, the players who win the championship in Monte Carlo seem to be able to get shelter, not only to have a good clay court season, but also to have good luck in the French Open.

In fact, professional players should believe that strength is the only key to victory; but the reality is often somewhat biased. Professional players more or less have their own little superstitions. One action and one object can bring them good luck. If so, they will keep going.

For example, some players firmly believe that they must use a different tennis ball every time they serve, which means a new start, and never reuse the same tennis ball.

But on the contrary, some players firmly believe that if they scored in the previous round, then this tennis ball can bring them good luck, so they continue to use the same tennis ball for the next point.

Same superstition, but played out in two different ways, and, on the tour, there are plenty of them.

The same is true for Monte Carlo, "the blessed land of the French Open", a superstition that is rather credible.

Of course, the "Big Four Era" is really special. From 2005 to 2012, Nadal completed an incredible eight consecutive championships here, so it doesn't seem to make much sense to discuss "blessed land" here.

However, if you go back in time, it is another look.

1993年、1995年、1998年、2001年、2002年、2003年、2004年，蒙特卡洛大师赛的冠军全部闯入法网决赛，其中五次顺利登顶夺冠，只有2002年的费雷罗和2004年的科里亚遗憾在巴黎屈居亚军。

In addition, in 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2000, the Monte Carlo Masters champions in these four years had their worst performance at the French Open in the fourth round.

It can be seen from all aspects that Monte Carlo is indeed the vane of the French Open, and it is indeed the blessed place of the French Open, which is different from other events.

Of course, last year, that is, in 2014, Monte Carlo was slightly Waterloo. Wawrinka defeated Federer here to win the first Masters championship in his career. However, in Paris, he was upset in the first round of the French Open.

This also became the second Monte Carlo champion to be eliminated in the first round of the French Open after Ilie-Nastase (Ilie-Nastase) in 1972 in the Open era. In 1971, he achieved three consecutive championships in Monte Carlo, and then won the runner-up, first round, and championship at the French Open. It was only in 1972 that the shocking upset broke out.

Even so, this still does not affect the existence of Monte Carlo as a "French Open".

Like the "Sunshine Double Crown" in North America, the players who come to Monte Carlo every year to compete are star-studded.

In fact, due to the special situation of Monaco, Monte Carlo does not have a lot of sponsorship funds, and the prize money of the event is only slightly higher than that of the Rome Masters. It pales in comparison.

It is precisely because of this that in 2009, the ATP competition was restructured, and Shanghai was upgraded to a new Masters, and the qualifications for two Masters were planned to be disqualified, and eight Masters seats were reserved in the end. The masters are Hamburg and Monte Carlo.

Both events face similar problems, and financial difficulties are undoubtedly one of them; and the relatively poor tennis market is also a serious challenge.

In the ATP's view, although Hamburg and Monte Carlo have a long history, they are not in line with the future direction of tennis.

At that time, because of the relegation, Monte Carlo and Hamburg even prepared to sue ATP because ATP tore up the contract.

The final result is that Monte Carlo retains the Masters-level treatment, but becomes the only Masters that does not require participation——

To put it simply, if a player misses the other eight Masters without injury or other legitimate reasons, they will all be fined and start with penalty points; but Monte Carlo will not, even if there is no legitimate reason, they can not participate. ATP will not give any penalty.

But in comparison, Monte Carlo has been very lucky, because Hamburg was directly relegated to a [-]-point event, and then never returned to the top ranks. In recent years, German players have mainly participated in the competition. Last year, Hamburg Giving Zverev Jr. a wild card is a direct reflection.

Firstly, the prize money is limited; secondly, participation is not compulsory; thirdly, the attendance rate of the audience is far lower than that of Madrid and Rome.

Logically speaking, the attractiveness of Monte Carlo should drop sharply, but the reality is that the players who come to participate every year are still star-studded——

It is because of the title of "French Open Weathervane" and "French Open Land", no one wants to miss it.

This year is no exception.

Among the top [-] players in the world, except for the absence of Murray and Kei Nishikori, all others signed up for the competition.

Both Murray and Kei Nishikori participated intensively, and encountered varying degrees of physical fatigue attacks in the "Sunshine Double Championship". For the consideration of the long clay court season, the two talents skipped Monte Carlo, but other top players did not People are willing to miss, bustling together again.

So, who will be able to reach the top here this year?

and!

In addition to the championship battle, entering the summer season, the "world ranking battle" that is the most concerned by the entire ATP is about to officially kick off:

Gao Wen's quest for world No. [-] is about to start. Obviously, the drama of "Big Four VS Challengers" is approaching its climax step by step.

Maybe, can go further on the basis of the second in the world?
Even if the world ranking competition is put aside for the time being, the attention and focus on Gao Wen has once again reached a new height. Since last year's Paris Masters, Gao Wen has won three Masters championships in a row, so he can put his own Will the winning streak continue further?

From the Grand Slam to the Masters, will Gao Wen's strong performance be challenged by entering the clay court season?
Assuming that Gao Wen will indeed face different challenges on clay and even lose, then when will Gao Wen's record of [-] consecutive victories in the Masters end?

Red clay, what role will it play this time?Gao Wen set foot on the clay court for the first time in his career. Will he be able to continue his magical performance all the way?
All kinds, all kinds, this also makes the championship battle in Monte Carlo full of more things to watch——

Excitement, more than just Nike?
The same goes for the news media and fanatical fans. To be precise, who can be an exception?
(End of this chapter)