Rafael Nadal and 5 of the Best Monte Carlo Performers of the Open Era

The clay-court season kicks into high gear with the start of the ATP World Tour Masters Series 1000 event in Monte Carlo, where the defending champion is Rafael Nadal.

Actually, he's the seven-time defending champion.

The Spanish sensation is not the only player in the Open Era, though, to find continued success at the tournament. Here's a look at five players who have made winning in Monte Carlo a habit.

Ilie Nastase

Romanian Ilie Nastase was one of the first players of the Open Era to make the tournament his personal playground.

From 1971 to 1973, "Nasty" brought home the title all three years.

The last year he won the event, he happened to beat future No. 1 Bjorn Borg in the final.

Bjorn Borg

It's safe to say that Bjorn Borg made out alright throughout the course of his clay-court career.

He found much success in Monaco, winning three titles there.

Borg took home the title in 1977, then added subsequent victories in '78 and '79.

Thomas Muster

Borg and Nastase weren't the only players to win three consecutive titles in Monte Carlo. Austrian Thomas Muster brought the tournament into his comfort zone as well.

Muster defended his win there in 1996 after going back to back the previous two years. He also won the title there in 1992.

Mats Wilander

One of the most accomplished clay-court players of his era, Mats Wilander captured the crown at the Monte-Carlo Masters twice, winning in 1983 and '87.

That may seem like a long stretch between titles, but the Swede actually made the finals in '84 and '85.

Rafael Nadal

As alluded to earlier, Rafael Nadal is the most-accomplished Monte Carlo champion of the Open Era with seven titles.

Over the years, he's won nearly every clay-court event on the tour. That march to the Hall of Fame all started with the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2005, the first big tournament win of his career.