The Monte-Carlo Masters has found itself at the center of an intellectual property dispute after an independent illustrator alleged that her work was used on official merchandise without consent.
Yana Boyko says she discovered that a design she created in June 2024 — featuring five damaged tennis rackets alongside the phrase “when it’s more than just a game†— was being sold on tournament-branded apparel. The revelation came not from organizers, but from a third party who assumed she had collaborated with the event.
That assumption, Boyko insists, was incorrect.
“Neither the tournament organizers nor any third parties ever contacted me,†she said, describing the discovery as both professionally and personally distressing.
Tournament Response Points to Supplier Error
A spokesperson for the tournament attributed the situation to a third-party merchandise supplier, declining to name the vendor but confirming that the matter is being taken seriously. Organizers have since reached out to Boyko via social media and indicated a willingness to resolve the issue.
Still, the incident raises familiar questions around licensing oversight and supply chain accountability in global sports events — particularly those operating at the scale of an ATP Tour Masters 1000 tournament.
More Than Just a Design
For Boyko, the issue extends beyond attribution.
Currently on maternity leave, the illustrator said the experience has had a tangible emotional impact. She is seeking formal recognition of authorship, a public apology, financial compensation for the use of her intellectual property, and damages for emotional distress.
“I have not been able to sleep,†she said, underscoring the personal toll of the situation.
A Broader Industry Pattern
While the tournament’s merchandise line largely draws inspiration from the Monte Carlo Country Club, this case highlights a recurring vulnerability in sports merchandising: the reliance on external creative pipelines without airtight rights verification.
For an event positioned just below Grand Slam level in prestige, the expectation of due diligence is correspondingly high — particularly as tournaments expand their retail footprint and brand identity.
On-Court Spotlight, Off-Court Dispute
The controversy unfolds as the tournament reaches its climax, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner set to contest the final after semifinal wins over Alexander Zverev and Valentin Vacherot.
But beyond the baseline, the outcome of this dispute could prove just as consequential — particularly in defining how tournaments safeguard creative ownership in an increasingly commercialized sports ecosystem.