The highlights of the calendar, as told by Gianni Clerici
∎ Monte Carlo Masters (April 6-13, 2025)
Founded in 1897, the Monte Carlo Masters is one of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments. Since 1928, matches have been played on the clay courts of the Monte-Carlo Country Club, which was conceived and financed by the American patron George Pierce Butler and designed by architect Charles Letrosne, just outside the borders of the Principality, in the municipality of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.
For further reading:
• Monte-Carlo Country Club – nel segno di Suzanne Lenglen
• Montecarlo: un torneo alquanto… italiano
∎ Internazionali d’Italia (7-18 maggio 2025)
Founded in 1930 (the same year Gianni was born), the Masters 1000 tournament has been held on the clay courts of Rome’s Foro Italico since the 1950 edition. That year also marked the beginning of Clerici’s coverage of Italy’s premier tennis event. In 2010, to mark the 80th anniversary, Rizzoli published the book Gianni Clerici agli internazionali d’Italia: cronache dello Scriba 1930-2010 (Gianni Clerici at the Italian Open: The Scriba’s Reports 1930–2010), which contains a collection of his best articles written about the tournament in the capital.
For further reading:
• 25 maggio 1976: “Panatta miracolato”
• Un incanto nella capitale: la primavera di Jasmine, quarant’anni dopo la Reggi
∎ Roland Garros (May 25 – June 8, 2025)
Founded in 1891, Roland Garros is the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. Originally known as the Championnat de France de tennis, it has been open to players from around the world since 1925. It is held in Paris between May and June on the clay courts of the Stade Roland Garros, named after the aviator of the same name. Rafael Nadal, to whom a commemorative tile is dedicated, holds the record for 14 singles titles.
For further reading:
• ‘Er Francia’ primeggia a Parigi: Nicola Pietrangeli campione di Slam
∎ Wimbledon Championships (June 30 – July 13, 2025)
Founded in 1877, the Wimbledon tournament is the oldest and most prestigious in the world. On the ATP calendar, it is the third Grand Slam of the year. Matches are played on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Tradition dictates that players must wear all-white attire. The tournament’s all-time winners are Roger Federer and Martina Navrátilová, with 8 and 9 titles, respectively.
For further reading:
• Wimbledon 1960: diario di un ‘giornatore’
∎ US Open (August 24 – September 7, 2025)
Founded in 1881 as the U.S. National Championships, the tournament was renamed the U.S. Open in 1968, the year that saw Arthur Ashe’s iconic victory. It is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the calendar and is played today in the Queens neighborhood (New York) on the cobalt-blue hard courts of Flushing Meadows, a facility dedicated to Billie Jean King: the historic Forest Hills venue, used from 1915 to 1977, featured grass courts instead.
For further reading: