ATP: Nadal achieves a commanding opening success in Monte Carlo

Mission “Undécima” is open! On his way to his eleventh triumph at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal beat Aljaz Bedene in two sets.

Monte Carlo record winner Rafael Nadal started into the traditional sand court tournament in the Principality with a sovereign 6:1, 6:3 victory against the Slovenian Aljaz Bedene.

On the well-filled Court Rainier III, the world’s number one was master of the house right from the start: after the early break to the 2-0, “Front Runner” Nadal pulled away uncatchably. Also in the second act Bedene could not pose unsolvable riddles to the favorites.

With match point four, the defending champion secured his place in the round of 16, where he will face Karen Khananov against Russia on Thursday. It was the second victory in the second comparison with Bedene. Two years ago, Nadal also prevailed over the world’s number 58 in Monte Carlo.

The 31-year-old Spaniard had just returned to the big stage two weeks ago after his hip flexor injury in the Davis Cup. With victories over Philipp Kohlschreiber and Alexander Zverev, the clay court king played a major part in his quarter-final victory over Germany in Valencia.

The number two on the seed list, Marin Cilic, beat Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the last game of the day. The Croatian will now face Milos Raonic in the round of 16.

Here the single tableau in Monte Carlo