It will take a brave punter to oppose Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo

Main contenders...

Rafael Nadal - 1/2

Nadal may head to Monaco down at fifth in the world rankings but is very much the man to beat in Monte Carlo. The 26-year-old looked as strong as ever in romping to the Indian Wells title, showing no signs of his knee problem, while he will be fresh again after missing Miami. He has also be handed an ideal draw, avoiding his main threat Djokovic and being placed in same quarter as Janko Tipsarevic, who is enduring a difficult campaign. There's little point in backing the Spaniard unless going in with a sizeable stake, but supporting him to win without dropping a single set (9/4) offers value.

Novak Djokovic - 3/1

The Serb proved in 2011 that he can more than match Nadal on clay when at the top of his game, but the ankle injury sustained last week is a real worry on such a physically demanding surface. While avoiding the Spaniard in the draw is certainly good news, Juan Monaco could provide a test in the final 16 while Juan Martin del Potro, who won their most recent clash in Indian Wells, is likely to await in the quarter-finals.

Andy Murray - 14/1

The new world number two will have his sights set on topping the rankings and knows an improved clay swing is vital, having failed to make a single semi-final on the red dirt in 2012. Murray's coach Ivan Lendl is a three-time French Open champion so is the perfect man to bring along his game, while confidence will be high after his hard-fought triumph at the recent Miami Masters. The Scot possesses all the attributes to be a fine clay-court player, with great defensive skills and immense fitness and should be expected to improve on his quarter-final run last year, when he lost in three sets to Tomas Berdych. With Nadal likely to be waiting in the final four, it is a big ask for the 25-year-old to better his best performances here, having previously made the semis in 2009 and 2011.

Tomas Berdych - 18/1

The world number six will be looking to make the most of his status as fourth seed here in the absence of Federer and Ferrer. He also looks the most likely to benefit if Djokovic's ankle injury has not healed sufficiently as the second-highest seed in the first half of the draw. However, the Czech has proved powerless against the world number one, falling short in each of their last 11 meetings. Berdych could also face Richard Gasquet in the quarter-finals, having lost their recent meeting in Miami at the same stage. While clay is certainly not the powerful 27-year-old's favoured surface, he is an apt player on the red dirt, having claimed two 250 titles on it, but stands little chance against Djokovic or Nadal if free of injury.

Juan Martin del Potro - 18/1

Another solid claycourt player whose weapons are somewhat neutralised on the red dirt, Del Potro returns to Monte Carlo after missing the event last year. The 'Tower of Tandil' has four clay titles to his name but remains without a single Masters crown. Placed in the same quarter as Djokovic, Del Potro's chances are somewhat dependent on the Serb's fitness, but the 24-year-old has proved a match for the world number one, with victories at the Olympics and Indian Wells.

Best of the rest

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's (66/1) game is hampered more than most by converting to the red dirt, having failed to reach a single final on the surface. Gasquet (33/1) is enjoying some fine form in 2013, reaching the semi-finals in Miami and claiming titles in Doha and Montpellier. Eighth seed Tipsarevic (250/1), in contrast, ended a five-match losing streak by making the round of 16 in Miami, meaning Gilles Simon (200/1) looks Nadal's most likely quarter-final opponent. Nicolas Almagro (50/1), who is second only to Nadal is the title tally on clay of the active players, is enjoying some fine form and is as likely as Tsonga to trouble Murray in the fourth quarter.

Nasal is king of clay so I think he will win.