The Monte-Carlo open seeds are falling and with it the usual excuses and explanations.

'This match was completely rotten from the first to the last point,” lamented Simon. “I'm surprised myself. I felt at ease on this surface. I was moving well. But I don't remember ever playing so badly. Nothing was right. Nothing was working. My forehand, my backhand, my serve, nothing.'

What he forgets to say is that Beck just did not let him play the way he would have liked to!

Players often forget the motto 'You are as good as your opponent allows you to be!'

Beck just did not let Simon play or look good.

Seed number 9 Gail Monfils went down to Janko Tipsarevic and said:

'There's not much to say about that match,' said Monfils, who was broken five times in total and drops to 15-8 on the season. 'I'm just trying to get used to clay-court conditions. I need to work more with Roger (Rasheed) and then confidence will come back.'

What Gail forgets to mention is that lower ranked Tipsarevic also beat him at an ATP World Tour Challenger in Zagreb two years ago.

Fabio Fognini No.108th-ranked Italian handed a humbling blow to World No. 25 Tomas Berdych 1-6, 6-3, 6-3

Nicolas Almagro No. 16 seed, who last year amassed an impressive 30-8 clay-court record (most wins),  lost to fellow Spanish and World No. 36 Albert Montanes 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(5) in two and a half hours.

Are we looking at a new tennis world order? Or is it that the clay is just making its yearly adjustments? Yet, is it that having to report your where abouts for one hour every day to the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) is taking its toll on the players nerves?

Who knows what the real reasons are? One thing is for sure, the seeds are falling like ripe fruit from the trees!

Let us follow the Monte Carlo open with curiosity and see what happens to the top seeds.

Sergio Cruz

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