Artist Accuses Monte-Carlo Masters of Copyright Theft

In the high-stakes world of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, every detail is meticulously managed. The clay is groomed, the hospitality is refined, and the brand is protected with ruthless efficiency. Yet, beneath the prestige of this ATP 1000-level event, a controversy is brewing that has nothing to do with topspin or break points, but everything to do with ownership.

The Stolen Visuals

Ukrainian artist Yana Boyko has come forward with a stinging accusation: the tournament has allegedly misappropriated her creative work for official merchandise. At the heart of the dispute is a design featuring five broken tennis racquets and the evocative slogan, “When It’s More Than Just A Game.” According to Boyko, this design appeared on a t-shirt sold by the tournament, but with a calculated alteration. In the specific spot where her original artist credit resided, the tournament swapped in the initials “MCCC.”

The Mental Grind of Attribution

This isn’t just about a shirt; it’s about the erasure of a creator's identity in the shadow of a global powerhouse. For an athlete, the court is an open book—your weaknesses are exposed, your mental state is written in your movement. For an artist, the work is the soul. To see that soul co-opted, branded, and sold by an entity like the Monte-Carlo Masters without permission is a violation of the professional code that governs our sport's respect for the individual.

As the tournament nears its conclusion on Sunday, April 12, 2026, the silence from the organizers is deafening. The ATP Tour prides itself on a structure of fairness and professional standards. Whether those standards apply to the merchandising department—or if the tournament hierarchy considers art as disposable as a dead ball—remains to be seen. In tennis, we teach our players to own their mistakes. It is time for the MCCC to show that same level of accountability regarding their commercial practices.