Novak Djokovic through to the third round of the Monte-Carlo Masters

The Serb played his first match since Indian Wells after choosing to skip Miami and then parting ways with long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic.

With former Serbian doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic guiding him from the stands, Djokovic, now the oldest men's singles number one in history, eased to a 6-1 6-2 victory over Russia's Roman Safiullin.

"I am very pleased,” said the 36-year-old.

"I think even the games that I lost I had break points in those games. It is a really great first match at the start of the clay season. It is always been a little bit up and down. Last year as well I started off well at this tournament and the second match I lost, so I hope to maintain this rhythm. I have a day tomorrow of training and I hope to come out in a few days time with the same attitude and quality of tennis."

In other action, Djokovic's countryman Miomir Kecmanovic ended Matteo Berrettini's winning run. Kecmanovic dispatched the Marrakech champion Berrettini 6-3, 6-1 in 75 minutes to set a third-round clash against Grigor Dimitrov.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry also advanced. The Argentine beat Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 7-5 and will next play two-time champion Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Jack Draper took on 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz and for the second year in a row lost a very tight contest.

The British number two forced a deciding set and then broke Hurkacz, champion on clay in Estoril last week, when he served for the match at 5-4 but the Pole played a brilliant tie-break to win 6-4 3-6 7-6 (2). Draper's exit ends British interest in singles, with Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans also losing in the first round.