Already deprived of the world's top two players, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick, the Monte Carlo Masters suffered another blow on Tuesday with the first-round exit of defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.
The Spaniard, winner in 2002 and 2003, paid the high price for an unlucky draw, crashing out 6-2, 6-3 against wildcard compatriot Alex Correjta in 69 minutes.
To meet one of the most experienced players in the field -- Corretja is a former world number two and twice a French Open finalist -- was obviously not the way Ferrero would have wanted to begin a title defence.
But the French Open champion had only himself to blame as his devastating groundstrokes deserted him.
To add insult to injury, Ferrero was fined 1000 dollars for failing to complete his post-match commitments.
After the demise on Monday of 1999 and 2001 winner Gustavo Kuerten, Ferrero's defeat left 1998 winner Carlos Moya as the only former champion still in the draw.
Moya beat Armenian Sargis Sargsian 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.
While claycourt specialists faltered, two former world number ones stole the show on courts made harder and faster by the heat and sun.
Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin showed glimpses of their best, both rallying from a set down to reach the second round.
Like the principality itself, Australia's Hewitt is nicknamed "the Rock" but he had never won a match previously on the Monegasque clay.
Playing his first claycourt tournament of the year, the Australian beat French wildcard Julien Benneteau 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 after an hour and 48 minutes to reach the second round.
PESKY CHALLENGE
"It's always tough... the first tournament on clay," he said. "I didn't feel too comfortable out there -- made a slow start and by the end it was just a dogfight."
Seeded 16th, the former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion will play Gaston Gaudio of Argentina next.
"I can probably only get better after today's match to be honest," he said.
"The next round will be a tough match... there's not too many easy matches in these tournaments."
Hewitt skipped playing the tournament last year -- his only previous appearance was a first round loss to Moya in 2002.
The Australian, beaten in the second round of his two Masters of the season, faces a tough challenge in the next round since Gaudio was a semi-finalist in Monte Carlo in 2000.
"But at least I have the chance to play another tough match on clay. It's always good with the French Open coming up," he said.
Safin, back after missing most of last year through injury, overcame a dogged challenge from Olivier Rochus, eventually swatting the pint-sized Belgian 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Standing 1.93 metres tall, Safin towers 28 centimetres above Rochus although the pair were evenly matched for much of the centre court contest.
"He's a small guy. I really don't like to play against him... I hate playing against the small guys," Safin smiled.
"You know, he fights so well and never gives up. He's a big fighter, anything could have happened.
"So it is a relief to get through... I'm feeling good."
Safin, like Hewitt a former U.S. Open champion, was runner-up at the Australian Open in February and is starting to look the force he was before injuries took hold.
The 24-year-old next faces Belarussian Max Mirnyi.
