Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka in Monte Carlo action
Wednesday 13 April 2016 17:50, UK
Rafael Nadal's attempt to win a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title gets underway on Wednesday when he meets British number two Aljaz Bedene, live on Sky Sports 2.
The Spaniard memorably won eight successive events in the principality, from 2005 to 2012, but has not reached the final since 2013 when he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.
With the French Open the next major on the calendar Nadal will be hoping for a return to title-winning ways - he has not won a tournament since Hamburg in August 2015 and has lost his last three finals (albeit to Djokovic twice and Roger Federer once).
The world No 5 reached the semi-final at Indian Wells before losing to Djokovic and it was the formidable world No 1 who saw off Nadal in the Spaniard's only final this year (Doha in January).
Britain's Bedene, ranked 60th in the world, provides the opposition in a first ever meeting between the pair and Nadal will start as strong favourite in some of his preferred surroundings.
On the subject of surroundings, Monte Carlo resident Djokovic will not have to travel to far for his first outing on clay - he faces Czech Jiri Vesely in second round action on Tuesday.
Djokovic, winner of the first two Masters events of the year to go with his Australian Open title, has never faced the World No 55 before but is the defending champion after victory over Tomas Berdych in 2015.
Despite a low-key season to date Vesely could provide a tricky test for the Serb having won a first round encounter with Teymuraz Gabashvili off the back of a run to the semi-finals on clay in Marrakech last week.
Stan Wawrinka opens proceedings on Court Central against Philipp Kohlschreiber, while home favourite Gael Monfils is also in action against Fabio Fognini. Richard Gasquet meets Lucas Pouille in an all-French clash while the identity of Andy Murray's next opponent will emerge from Joao Sousa's meeting with Benoit Paire.
Live ATP Masters Tennis
One to watch
Milos Raonic is one of the form players of the year, reaching the semi-final in Melbourne, the final at Indian Wells and the quarter-final in Miami having started the season with victory in the Brisbane international.
However, Argentinian Pablo Cuevas could rightly lay claim to the title as well, he is one of five players with multiple singles titles on the tour this year, winning on the clay in both Rio and Sao Paulo and he is sure to give the big serving Canadian a tough workout.
Raonic won their only previous meeting in Portugal in 2014 but both players have improved immeasurably in the two years since with Raonic tipped as the next man to break the stranglehold on the big four at the majors and 30-year-old Cuevas's two title this year just one less than his has previously managed in his career.
Surprise in store
Damir Dzumhur saw off Nadal in the second round in Miami so will fancy his chances of a possible upset against world No 7 Tomas Berdych.
The Czech lost in last year's Monte Carlo final and has two wins from the two meetings between the pair but both were on outdoor hard courts.
World No 99 Dzumhur made the last 16 in Florida but lost to Berdych in Doha earlier this year - he blows hot and cold but Berdych will have to be on his game if he is to advance.
In case you missed it
Andy Murray was made to work for his second round victory against Pierre-Hugues Herbert which came in three tough sets while number eight seed David Ferrer withdrew from the event with an unspecified injury.
Roger Federer's return from injury was perhaps the major story of the day, the Swiss has not played since the Australian Open following knee surgery and a stomach bug but he saw off Guillermo Garcia Lopez in fine style.
However it was Feliciano Lopez who delivered a memorable moment, a furious blast in the direction of the umpire with whom he was less than impressed...
Watch the Monte Carlo Masters on Sky Sports all this week, Wednesday's action is underway at 9.30am on Sky Sports 2.
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