Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will begin their clay-court seasons today, in the second round of the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters.

Murray takes on Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France, while World No 1 Djokovic will face Mikhail Youzhny of Russia after recovering sufficiently from an ankle injury suffered during a Davis Cup tie earlier this month.

Meanwhile, holder Rafael Nadal, who is set defend this title for a record-extending ninth successive year, began his quest with an emphatic demolition of Australia's Marinko Matosevic.

Andy Murray
Reuters

Where to Watch Live

Live coverage is on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD 1. You can also watch the game live on the ATP's official Web site.

  • Djokovic v Youzhny starts at 1.30pm BST
  • Murray v Roger-Vasselin starts at 3.30pm BST

Overview

Murray and Djokovic are in fine form and both are expected to have a good run in Monte Carlo this year. The Brit enters this tournament after triumphing in the Miami Masters last month and reclaiming his World No 2 status. The Serb, on the other hand, will be looking to go one better this year, after losing last year's final 6-3, 6-1 to Nadal.

However, it is Nadal who will start the campaign as favourite, despite spending the last eight months on the sidelines with a knee injury. Last year's triumph placed the Spaniard on a record 42-match winning-streak in Monte Carlo and also made him the first man to win a tournament eight consecutive times in the Open era.

"I don't feel I am the biggest favourite to win the tournament this year. It's not easy to win this tournament. I will go day by day. It's not possible to win every year. Some day that's going to stop. But I am very excited to be here and have a high motivation to play well and put myself in position to have a good tournament. I am a candidate if I play my game," Nadal pointed out.

Round-Up

Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [FRA] and seventh seed Richard Gasquet [FRA] progressed to the third round on Tuesday, with Tsonga defeating Nikolay Davydenko [RUS] 7-6 (3), 6-2. Gasquet got the better of compatriot Benoit Paire, winning 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Also through are fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro [ARG], who beat Alexandr Dolgopolov [UKR] 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and Grigor Dimitrov [BUL], who overcame eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic [SRB] 7-6 (3), 6-1.

Nadal, the third seed, took only 62 minutes to beat Matosevic. The clay court maestro won 6-1, 6-2 and will face 16th seeded German P Kohlschreiber in the next round.

Russia