MONACO: Richard Gasquet converted all six of his break points in a 6-4, 6-0 win over Nicolas Almagro on Monday in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

Gael Monfils, a semifinalist last year, also advanced, beating Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 7-5, 6-0.

Also, Roberto Bautista Agut beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-4, 7-6 (4) and Grigor Dimitrov defeated qualifier Filip Krajinovic 6-3, 6-2.

Meantime, eght-time winner Rafael Nadal and four-time finalist Roger Federer will line up against a pair of underpowered hopefuls in the second round.

Nadal, who is working to return to his previous best on his longtime favourite surface, will open in the second round after a bye against British No. 2 Aljaz Bedene.

The Slovenian-born world No. 60 will face one of the toughest tests on clay when he takes on the Spaniard who dominated with consecutive trophies from 2005-12.

Nadal has never played Bedene, Federer is 3-0 over Garcia-Lopez as the pair meet for the first time on clay.

Bedene booked his spot against Nadal as he defeated Czech Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.

Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez made it past Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 7-5, 6-1 to next face third seed Federer, who is set to play his first match in more than two months after a knee procedure.

Nadal is looking for his first title on any surface since last summer and will willingly make 57th-ranked, Slovenia-born Bedene his first victim of the week in the principality.

Monaco downs Sock for first title since 2013

Argentina's Juan Monaco won the ATP clay court title in Houston on Sunday, cementing his return from injury with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over defending champion Jack Sock.

"I didn't expect this so fast," said Monaco, who had surgery on his right wrist in August and was sidelined for six months. "No words to describe this moment."

The former top-10 is projected to rise from his 146th in the world to 90th, and said it was fitting that the first title of his return came in such a dramatic battle.

"Today was a quick movie of my life," said Monaco, 32, claiming his first ATP title since Duesseldorf in 2013 and his second in Houston to go with the one he earned in 2012.

After Sock took the first set, Monaco received treatment on his right arm, and after the injury timeout Sock lost 10 of the next 14 games.

Sock, the fourth seed, received treatment on his right arm and right shoulder, and was visibly limping in the third set -- when he still managed to erase two breaks of serve in the decider before Monaco finally finished him off.

"I'm not sure exactly what happened with my body," Sock said. "Last night I didn't feel great, was sweating even in a very air-conditioned room. So maybe coming down with something.

"But it doesn't take away from his battle and his fight today."