While Andy Murray celebrates marriage to Kim Sears, the rest of the ATP elite are girding for battle on the clay, with Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal leading the field as the Monte Carlo Masters begins on Sunday.
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Murray, who moved back to third in the world after a Miami final last weekend against Djokovic, will delay the start of his clay campaign having tied the knot in Dunblane, Scotland yesterday.
Djokovic is riding a huge wave of form, with the Serb having already won the Australian Open and completing an historic third trophy double at Indian Wells and Miami.
“It’s just the beginning, I don’t want to predict anything. I don’t want to put some additional unnecessary pressure on myself,” the Monte Carlo-based player said.
“I could not ask for a better start of the season winning three big titles. Hopefully, I’m able to use this for the claycourts.
“That’s extremely important for me, obviously, leading up to French. I feel good about myself right now on the court, and just going to take it slowly, one tournament at a time.”
Last year’s finalist Federer is back after skipping Miami as a strategic move while a question mark hangs over eight-time winner Rafael Nadal, the third seed who has not lifted the title here since 2012 and is the midst of a poor run of form.
Canadian Milos Raonic takes the fourth seeding in a draw where the top eight seeds have first-round byes.
