© ATP World Tour
© ATP World Tour
© ATP World Tour
© ATP World Tour
'Big 4' return to Monte-Carlo Masters 2016
But who will take this prestigious tennis title...let battle commence
The names of the players for the 2016 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters have been announced and we are very happy to see four big hitters (literally!) back in the game together - Murray, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal.
These four top seeded tennis players have not competed together in Monte-Carlo since 2009. That year the trophy was held aloft by Rafa Nadal, half-way through his eight year domination at the Monte-Carlo Masters. He raised the trophy each year from 2005 to 2012, until he was finally toppled by Monaco's very own Novak Djokovic in 2013.
In 2009 Swiss player Roger Federer was knocked out before the Quarter Finals, whilst Scotsman Andy Murray made it to the Semi Finals only to be beaten by the Spaniard Rafael Nadal. The tournament final was an exciting showdown between Nadal and the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
The 2010 tournament was missing Roger Federer, Djokovic was noticeably absent in 2011, followed by a further two years of no Roger Federer and the last two years, 2014 and 2015, saw the absence of British player Andy Murray.
So 2016 is already set to be an exciting year in Monte-Carlo. The Masters 1000 tour is currently under way with the first round of competition taking place right now in the US at the Indian Wells Masters. Next stop on the tour will be Monte-Carlo Masters from 9th to 17th April April, before the stars of tennis move on to Spain and Italy in May.
The only question that remains...will Novak Djokovic remain the Master of Monaco and retain in 2016?
