Mario Ancic, whose career was undermined by crippling glandular fever, moved into the Monte Carlo Masters second round on Monday where he will face a challenge just as daunting in the shape of claycourt king Rafael Nadal.

Croatian Ancic, a former top 10 player and Davis Cup winner, was sidelined for six months in 2007 with mononucleosis, the same ailment which struck down world number one Roger Federer earlier this year.

But the 24-year-old, a Monaco resident, justified his wildcard award by easing past Czech qualifier Ivo Minar 6-3, 6-4 to set-up a second round meeting with Nadal, the triple champion here whose wins in 2005, 2006 and 2007 prefaced three French Open triumphs.

Ancic, now ranked 55 in the world, has won one of three career meetings with the Spanish left-hander, but the last came in 2004.

Nadal, the world number two, will be making his 2008 claycourt bow with a formidable record of 107 wins from 110 matches on his favourite surface in the last three years.

It's a run which has also yielded 17 claycourt titles.

Also reaching the second round was the 2002 and 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain who put out France's Michael Llodra 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-1 and will next face either French qualifier Marc Gicquel or Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

World number one Roger Federer arrives in Monte Carlo buoyed by having won a first title of the season at Estoril at the weekend.

The Swiss star, a runner-up for the last two years to Nadal, believes his win in Portugal will provide a timely boost for another assault on the French Open, the only Grand Slam title to have eluded him.

"I've had five matches on clay now, that's a good start," said 12-time Grand Slam title winner Federer whose win over Nikolay Davydenko in Portugal was his first trophy since the Masters Cup in Shanghai in November.

Federer said that starting with an extra claycourt event in 2008 gave him confidence looking forward to Roland Garros where he has lost to Nadal in the last two finals.

"I have bounced back and I'm playing well again considering my tough start to season," said Federer who will take on either France's Gilles Simon or Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, the world number three, will face the winner of the first round meeting between triple French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten, the champion here in 1999 and 2001, and Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.

Kuerten, whose career has been in freefall because of a serious back injury, is on a farewell tour of his favourite events.

The Brazilian, with a world ranking of 1,145, is playing here on a wildcard invitation and will retire after an emotional final appearance at Roland Garros next month.