World No 1 is bidding to win the clay tournament for an 11th time and a third year in succession
Wednesday 18 April 2018 18:55, UK
Rafael Nadal made quick work of Aljaz Bedene with a two-set victory in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday.
After receiving a bye through the first round of the tournament, the Spaniard brushed aside Bedene 6-1 6-3 as he looks to secure a record-extending 11th title in Monte Carlo.
Following Novak Djokovic's win on Court Rainier III before him, Nadal came out firing early despite having not played on the circuit since suffering a hip injury in January's Australian Open.
His two wins in Spain's Davis Cup quarter-final victory over Germany last weekend will have helped give him the confidence to start fast, and he raced through the first set 6-1.
Slovenia's Bedene didn't roll over, but at one of his favourite venues, Nadal was simply too good to stop and wrapped up the second 6-3 with ease. After a tough few months to start the year, the Spaniard would relish another win at this tournament.
After the game, Nadal said "It's a very important one for me. It's very important to start with a victory, that helps. And I'm going to try and keep going."
He'll face 21-year-old Karen Khachanov in the next round after his 6-2 6-2 win against France's Gilles Simon, and Nadal promised he'll be ready.
"It's going to be a very tough one. I'm going to need to be ready to play a very high intensity and a high level of tennis if I want to have success."
Coverage of the ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters gets under way from 10am on Sky Sports Arena every day this week.
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