Monte Carlo Masters to allow homeboys to stay at home

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In a late turn of events, the day, Open Court has learned the tournament and local authorities in Monaco have decided to allow the principality’s residents to … live at home during the Monte Carlo Masters.

This, obviously, applies to a fair few players who are tax residents there.

Among them are Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev and Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Most of them, we’re told, have already been aware of this for a few days.

The players either must be a Monaco national or passport holder, or hold a “carte de résident”.

(Tangent, but did you know that to be eligible for a carte de résident, you have to deposit … at LEAST 500,000 euros into a bank there, and keep it there the entire time you’re a resident?)

Team members also welcome

The players can also have members of their teams stay with them – if their places are big enough.

They’ll have to undergo PCR testing every day, beyond the regular ATP Tour protocols (which only call for a second test four days later). And they’ll have to pay for all the extra tests.

If they’ve already booked a hotel, they’ll have to cover the cancellation fees. And they don’t get the per diem on top of that, obviously.

Outdoor exercise allowed

The ATP’s COVID protocols have been modified lately – loosened a little.

In the particular case of the Monte Carlo event, those allowed to bunk at home will also be allowed to exercise for up to an hour outside the tournament bubble. But they still have to stay within the Monte Carlo limits.

Other than that, they have to comply with the same “site and hotel only” restrictions the rest of the players have to. Except they can do it at home. And we figure there probably won’t be as much security keeping an eye on them there.

They are “strongly advised” to use official tournament transportation. But that doesn’t sound mandatory.

Hoops to jump just to get in

As it was, the hoops to jump through just to get into the country were impressive.

The players were allowed an exemption to enter France without having to go through the seven-day self-isolation.

But there was a lot of paperwork.

There’s the now-standard negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. They have to have the official document granting them the waiver for the self-isolation period, for professional reasons.

And, if they’re coming from places other than the EU, Australia and few others – notably, Miami – they have to have those items. They also had to get a special pass issued by the French authorities.