World number one and top seed Marat Safin's miserable season continued today when he was bundled out of the first round of the $2.95 million Monte Carlo Masters 6-3 6-1 by France's Arnaud Di Pasquale.
"It was a disaster," said Safin afterwards. "To lose 6-3 6-1 against Di Pasquale is not the way to play tennis."
The Frenchman had won just four matches in four months before overcoming Safin in only 52 minutes.
"I just couldn't play well from the baseline for some reason. I couldn't do anything," Safin added.
Spanish seventh seed Juan Carlos Ferrero had no problems in progressing.
He tore apart twice French Open champion Sergi Bruguera 6-2 6-1 in an all-Spanish battle of the generations.
He was joined in the second round by third seed Magnus Norman who defeated French Davis Cup hero Nicolas Escude 6-2 6-2 and Tommy Haas who destroyed Belarussian Max Mirnyi 6-0 6-1.
Greg Rusedski failed to reach the last 32 as he made a miserable exit against Romanian Andrei Pavel in straight sets.
Pavel advanced 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 in 1hr 41min as Rusedski failed to click on the slow clay that neutralises his powerful serve.