Nadal, Federer march on at Monte Carlo Masters

Rafa Nadal returned to one of his favourite hunting grounds to thrash Frenchman Lucas Pouille at the Monte Carlo Masters as his build-up to the French Open began.

The Spaniard, who will be looking for a 10th Roland Garros title next month, enjoyed a 6-2, 6-1 second-round victory.

The world number five, who has ruled in Monte Carlo a record eight times, will next face either American 15th-seed John Isner or Serbian Viktor Troicki in the third round.

He was joined in the last-16 by second-seed Roger Federer after the Swiss also enjoyed an easy 6-2, 6-1 victory over another Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.

Federer next faces either France’s Gael Monfils or Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Seventh-seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland set up a third-round meeting with Bulgarian ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov after seeing off Argentine Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1.

World number one Novak Djokovic reached the third round on Tuesday when he easily beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

Results:

Gilles Simon (France) beat Benoit Paire (France) 6-4 7-5

Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Fabio Fognini (Italy) 6-3 6-4

Rafa Nadal (Spain) beat Lucas Pouille (France) 6-2 6-1

Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(4)

Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Sergiy Stakhovsky (Ukraine) 6-4 7-6(2)

Tommy Robredo (Spain) beat Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-1 6-1

Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Juan Monaco (Argentina) 6-1 6-4