Monte-Carlo R2 previews and predictions: Nadal vs. Bedene, Wawrinka vs. Kohlschreiber

Rafael Nadal will kick off his Monte-Carlo campaign on Wednesday against Aljaz Bedene. Second-round action also features a showdown between Stan Wawrinka and Philipp Kohlschreiber. 

(5) Rafael Nadal vs. Aljaz Bedene

Nadal will begin his bid for a ninth career title at this event and first since 2012 when he takes the court at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday. The fifth-ranked Spaniard lifted the trophy on eight consecutive occasions between 2005 and 2012 before losing in the final in 2013 (to Novak Djokovic), the quarters in 2014 (to David Ferrer), and the semis last season (to Djokovic). With Djokovic coming off back-to-back Masters 1000 triumphs in Indian Wells and Miami and with Nadal in the midst of what has so far been a second straight disappointing year, the 14-time major champion is no longer the title favorite. He is looking to bounce back from an early exit in Miami, where he retired due to heat-related issues during a third set against Damir Dzumhur.

Up first for Nadal is Bedene, whom he has never faced. This could have been another chapter in the Nadal vs. Lukas Rosol rivalry, but Bedene had no trouble disposing of the Czech via a 6-2, 6-3 decision on Monday. The 60th-ranked Brit has not won more than a single match at any ATP-level tournament since the season opener in Chennai, where he advanced to the semifinals. Bedene is 0-6 lifetime against top-10 opponents and 1-14 in total sets. More of the same should continue against Nadal, who is back on his favorite surface and competing in one of his best events.

Pick: Nadal in 2 losing 7 games or fewer

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Philipp Kohlschreiber vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka and Kohlschreiber will be going head-to-head for just the fourth time in their careers on Wednesday. The two veterans went seven full years without playing each other, as they last squared off at the 2008 Madrid Masters prior to an encounter earlier this season in Dubai. Wawrinka took the most recent showdown 7-5, 6-1 and is now a perfect 3-0 at Kohlschreiber’s expense. The German at least managed to be competitive in Madrid (lost in a third-set tiebreaker) after getting blown out by Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in round one of the 2008 French Open.

Wawrinka will be happy to be back on clay and should be especially thrilled to be in Monte-Carlo, where he triumphed in 2014. The fourth-ranked Swiss captured the Dubai title in late February but out of nowhere he lost to David Goffin in the Indian Wells fourth round and to Andrey Kuznetsov right away in Miami. Kohlschreiber started to heat up in February with trips to at least the quarterfinals of three consecutive events. He is 4-1 in his last five matches (with his only setback during this stretch coming against Djokovic in the Indian Wells third round) after cruising past Borna Coric 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday. This should be relatively competitive, but the surface is likely to help Wawrinka finish the job in straight sets.

Pick: Wawrinka in 2

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