ATP – Monte Carlo > The anecdote of Franulovic, tournament director: “Nadal had forgotten the rackets, so I told Federer to go sign some autographs for the children”

As he is about to leave his post as director of the Monte‐Carlo Masters 1000 after 17 years of good and loyal service at the end of this 2022 edition, Zeljko Franulovic, interviewed by our Italian colleagues from Ubitennisreturned to the highlights of his presidency and notably delivered some tasty anecdotes about Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

“An anecdote and the best memories? Obviously I have a lot. With Novak, for example, there is no particular anecdote because we have always had the greatest friendship that I can have with a player. But if I had to mention an anecdote, it was when we organized a show in Casino Square with Nadal and Federer, it was the first year of this initiative. There was an audience, the terrace was full of celebrities, the players arrived in a historic car and had to play. The problem was that Rafa didn’t have the rackets (smiles). So I told Roger to go sign some autographs for the kids and Nadal’s agent quickly left with the scooter at the Monte‐Carlo Bay hotel, which is not far at all but which told me seemed like an eternity. He came back with the snowshoes. And no one really noticed. And then you wonder how you can make the same mistake twice? It happens. This time we were in front of the Palace and Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal had to play. His Royal Highness was there too, the press, the fans. This time, we forgot the balls. And there were no sports shops near the Royal Palace. What to do ? We were saved by His Highness the Prince himself who went to the Palace and brought us bullets. Two amusing, but a little embarrassing anecdotes, but luckily everything went well. »

Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2022 at 3:55 PM