Enjoying a fun exhibition for a great cause

This Saturday, the first day of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, was ultra special, as parallel to the qualification matches, there was a charity exhibition on court Rainier III (central court) benefiting the association AMADE Mondiale Monaco. Funded in 1963 at the initiative of Princess Grace of Monaco, and presided by HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, AMADE is based on a vision of a world where every child, no matter his or her social, religious or cultural differences, has the right to live with dignity and security.

Former tennis player Swede Jonas Bjorkman, new coach for Croatian Marin Cilic, joined forces with former Croatian tennis champion Goran Ivanisevic, new coach for Czech Tomas Berdych, and organized a ludic exhibition with: Novak Djokovic (N°2), Dominic Thiem (N8), Marin Cilic (N°9), David Goffin (N°12), Grigor Dimitrov (N°13), 
Thomas Berdych (N°14), Alexander Zverev (N°20) and his brother Mischa (N°33). Coaches and players wore mikes so you could hear them while playing in in incredible combinations of 4 against 4, or even 7 against 1 that was the funniest of them all, making the public burst into laughter and cheer effusively. 

Jonas Bjorkman, David Goffin, Mischa Zverev, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Goran Ivanisevic @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Mischa Zverev, David Goffin, Dominic Thiem opposite Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov and Tomas Berdych @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Dominic Thiem, Mischa Zverev, Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dimitrov against David Goffin @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Watching pros practice and others go through qualifiers 

Elsewhere fans gathered around the practice courts to have a glimpse at the tennis stars. Defending champion Rafael Nadal hit balls with Belgian David Goffin, while Serb Novak Djokovic practiced with Swiss Stan Wawrinka. 

Results for the Qualifying matches 

• Adrian Mannarino (France) d. Lucas Catarina(Monaco)
• Jan-Lennard Struff (Germany) d. Paul-Henri Mathieu(France)
• Martin Klizan (Serbia) d. Evgeny Donskoy (Russia)
• Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) d. Andrey Rublev (Russia)
• Danus Dzumhur (Bosnia) d. Alessandro Giannessi (Italy)
• Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) d. Julien Benneteau (France)
• Mikhail Kukushkin (Kaz) d. Bolelli (Italy)
• Yuichi Sugita (Japan) d. Hugo Nys (France)
• Pierre-Hughes Herbert (France) d. Marius Copil (Rumania) 
• Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) d. Dusan Lajovic (Serbia)
• Roberto Carballes Baena (Spain) d. Radu Albot (Rumania)
• Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Spain) d. Florent Diep (France)
• Mikhail Youizhny (Russia) d. Taro Daniel (Japan)
• Renzo Olivo (Argentina) d. Jozef Kovalik (Serbia)

Sunday, April 16 at 11:00 – Program for Court Rainier III (Central Court)

Singles

1. Simone Bolelli (Italy) vs. Renzo Olivo (Argentina)
2. Steve Darcis (Belgium) vs. David Goffin (Belgium)
3. Gilles Simon (France)  vs. Malek Jaziri (Tunisia)

Doubles

Max Mirnyi/Daniel Nestor vs. Fabio Fognini/Stan Wawrinka 

Today’s Quote

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” Arthur Ashe