From The Independent: Sombre mood fails to dampen Ferrero's spirit
The Monte Carlo Country Club, set on a hillside with a Mediterranean view along Avenue Princess Grace, at Roquebrune Cap Martin, just over the French border, is by tradition where the European clay court tennis season really begins.
And the tradition is continuing this week, even though the funeral of Prince Rainier of Monaco is due to take place next Friday and three months of mourning have been declared.
The sombre mood was matched by the weather yesterday as rain interrupted the opening day of the Monte Carlo Masters. But the rain did not prevent Guillermo Coria, the Argentinian defending champion, from getting off the mark with a 6-2, 7-5 win against Paul-Henri Mathieu, a French wildcard.
Nor did it dampen the spirit of Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Spaniard, the undisputed master of clay courts two years ago, has had such a frustrating time since then that any kind of win is a bonus. Yesterday Ferrero, handed a wildcard for the tournament to offset his world ranking of 69, was hugely relieved to open with a 6-4, 6-1 success against Ivo Karlovic.
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