Five ATP players to keep an eye on for the clay season

After the big guns on the ATP tour got a little bit of rest following the U.S. hard-court season, the men have shifted their focus to the red clay of Europe. While some got a head start in Houston, most will begin their clay-court seasons in Monte Carlo.

With the unique slower conditions and high bounce of clay, certain players will be primed for big results on the road to Roland Garros. Here are the five names to keep an eye out for during the next few weeks:

1

Rafael Nadal

As the undisputed King of Clay owning a record ten French Open titles, there is no road through the dirt without going through Rafael Nadal. Breaking more records last year with "La Decima" milestones in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and Paris, the Spaniard’s unparalleled dominance on clay make beating him in the spring the toughest test in tennis.

Despite his injury setbacks in 2018, he looked right back at home on the clay in Valencia during the Davis Cup quarterfinals, setting yet another record (for most consecutive matches won).

2

Dominic Thiem

Largely seen as the next-best clay court player behind Nadal as the only man to defeat the Spaniard on the dirt in 2017, Thiem’s powerful strokes and whopping backswings make his game suited to clay. Injury questions linger with Thiem after an ankle injury forced him to retire in Indian Wells.

But with three of his five losses on clay last season coming against Nadal, Thiem is well positioned to challenge for big runs on the dirt in 2018.

3

Novak Djokovic

While the 12-time major champion is searching for answers at this stage of his career, Djokovic is still one of the most accomplished clay-court players on tour. He owns 13 clay-court titles, of which nine are ATP Masters 1000 and one is a Roland Garros crown.

After two confusing hard-court losses in Miami and Indian Wells, Djokovic got off to a dominant start in Monte Carlo, winning his opener in less than an hour of Dusan Lajovic.

4

Alexander Zverev

As one of the most promising young faces on tour, the 20-year-old has established his place near the top of the game with a breakthrough 2017 season. His clay highlight was winning his first career ATP Masters 1000 in Rome. The young German found his game again in 2018 with a run to the final in Miami, and should bring that confidence to the clay season.

5

Lucas Pouille

There always has to be one French player poised for a deep run on the terre battue of Paris and for French fans Pouille could be it. Pouille has shown flashes of brilliance on clay with a semifinal run in Monte Carlo last year thanks to his heavy, all-court game.

After winning both his singles matches in France's quarterfinal win over Italy, the world No. 11 was ushered out of Monte Carlo on Tuesday by Mischa Zverev in a third-set tiebreak. There's plenty more time on clay to come though for the 24-year-old.

After Monte Carlo, big lead-ups to the French Open continue in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome.

This Week on Tennis Channel Plus:

ATP Monte Carlo (4/15-4/22)

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WTA Dothan (4/17-4/22)

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Fed Cup (4/21-4/22)

-Tennis Channel Plus is your home for Fed Cup action! Watch live ties between USA vs. France and Germany vs. Czech Republic beginning at 6:00 AM ET on Saturday April 21

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