Eight of the world’s top ten players are in attendance at the 2013 Monte Carlo Masters, which begins this week. Eight-time defending champion Rafael Nadal is aiming to win the title for the ninth consecutive year and will start his campaign with either compatriot Fernando Verdasco or Marinko Matosevic. Nadal, who’s been out of the competition for eight months, made a splash in his comeback last February 2013 by winning reaching the finals of all the four tournament he’s participated so far (Sao Paulo, Acapulco, Indian Wells).
Nadal is seeded third in this event due to non-participation of Roger Federer and David Ferrer. He’s projected to face second-seed Andy Murray in the semifinals. Nadal leads 13-5 in their head to head series and two of those victories were from this tournament (semifinals in 2009 and 2011).
