Nadal thrashes Bedene in Monte Carlo

MONACO: World No 1 Rafael Nadal started his bid for an 11th Monte Carlo Masters title with a 6-1, 6-3 second-round victory over Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene yesterday.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner, like Novak Djokovic, is looking for a record 31st Masters title, and will take on big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in the last 16.

Nadal brought up set point in the opener with a trademark, curling forehand up the line, before sealing the set with a drop shot.

Bedene managed to keep the second set on serve for six games, but Nadal broke to lead 43 and wrapped up a comfortable victory in the Monaco sunshine with another break as Bedene hit a forehand into the net.

He remains on course for a possible quarter-final showdown with Djokovic, who earlier needed 10 match points to see off Borna Coric and set up a third-round clash with Dominic Thiem.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion, playing only his fourth tournament since Wimbledon last July after struggling with a right elbow injury, overcame some late nerves to win 7-6 (7-2), 7-5.

Japan’s Kei Nishikori continued his comeback from injury with an impressive 7-5, 6-2 win over Russian Daniil Medvedev.

The former World No 4, who has struggled over the last year with a right wrist injury, followed up his first-round victory against Tomas Berdych with a solid display on centre court.

Nishikori will face either Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or Andreas Seppi for a place in the quarter-finals.

Nishikori, now ranked 36, missed the end of last season through injury and only returned to action in a second-tier Challenger event in January.

Elsewhere, Khachanov cruised past Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2 to set up a meeting with either Nadal or Bedene, while 11th seed Roberto Bautista Agut beat Feliciano Lopez in straight sets.

Last year’s runner-up Albert Ramos-Vinolas slumped to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat by Philipp Kohlschreiber, whose fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff joined him in the last 16 by seeing off Italian 13th seed Fabio Fognini.