The sun was certainly beating down a bit on Sunday April 16 in Monaco during the Rolex-Monte Carlo Masters 2023 final, which pitted Danish Holger Rune against Russian Andrey Rublev on clay.
The latter, world number 6, finally won it in three sets, 5-7 6-2 7-5, thus winning at 25 the biggest title of his career.
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It was then that an awkward situation arose when the princely couple descended on the tennis court to hand over their trophy to the young winner.
Very moved by his feat, he indeed confused Princess Charlene with the president of the Monegasque Tennis Federation Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, also a little cousin of Prince Albert.
Signaling to Mélanie and the prince, the champion thus declared: “I would like to say a big thank you to Monsignor (sic) and to the princess for having always made this tournament an incredible moment”.
Then he turned to Charlène and added: "Thank you to Mélanie for everything", before realizing his mistake when the princess gave him a sign of the patron saint of Monegasque tennis.
“Ah sorry, sorry,” Rublev replied, putting his head in his hands, terribly uncomfortable and pleading sunstroke.
“Too much sun guys, sorry.
I'm a little stupid, you know," he said again.
If Albert and his little cousin were amused by this mistake, Princess Charlene lowered her head, embarrassed by the situation.
Finally continuing his speech, the tennis player then referred to his country of origin, admitting that he was pleasantly surprised to get so much support from the public as a Russian athlete.
"Last thing, I just want to say a big thank you to all of you, because being from the country I'm from, having international support all over the world means a lot."
Playing under a neutral banner, along with all the other Russians and Belarusians on the tennis circuit, Rublev has already spoken openly against the war in Ukraine, calling for peace on several occasions.
In video, Charlène, melancholy princess of Monaco