Grades for Top Stars at the 2015 Monte-Carlo Masters

The outcome of the 2015 Monte-Carlo Masters might not have raised any eyebrows, but there were stars on display who made the grade in style to turn their seasons around.

Grigor Dimitrov secured a quarter-final place after a succession of early exits in recent weeks. He beat formidable opponents along the way to prove there's substance behind the style.

Tomas Berdych reached his third final of the season, but he again missed out on a first title of 2015. The Czech's consistency at tournaments seems as if it will be rewarded sooner rather than later.

The following slides will analyse and grade four of the men's top stars' tournaments.

Rafael Nadal

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Rafael Nadal's roll of the dice in Monte Carlo was a successful one, even if the last man at the table was a familiar face.

Exiting in the semi-finals to the relentless Novak Djokovic in straight sets, Nadal at least showed signs of progression. He battled past John Isner and David Ferrer, two opponents more than capable of taking advantage of a Nadal in short supply of a winning formula.

The Spaniard declared Monte Carlo the first real positive of his year. His admission to a lack of confidence in weeks gone by makes you wonder how a man who once seemed superhuman could display such levels of mortality.

Yet there were signs in the last week that the superhuman within Nadal is far from a spent force. He might just be warming up.

Grade: B+

Tomas Berdych

Claude Paris/Associated Press

If consistency is the key to success, Tomas Berdych is better equipped than most to have a successful year. You can't say that about many players who have yet to win a tournament in 2015.

Berdych has been as consistent as Novak Djokovic has been ruthless, reaching at least the quarter-finals in all eight events he has taken part in this year. Djokovic, though, saw him off in three sets in Monte Carlo's showpiece final.

It's a shame that Milos Raonic withdrew from his quarter-final clash with Berdych, because the latter has only beaten one player—Nadal—from inside the top 10 this year. It remains the acid test he routinely fails.

Monte Carlo was no different for Berdych. He saw off players scrambling just below him to be called one of the 10 best players in the world. Gael Monfils and Roberto Bautista Agut were this week's fall guys.

Yet just a second win against a top 10 player continues to elude him. Until that changes, expect the wait for a first title of 2015 to roll on.

Grade: B+

Stan Wawrinka

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

Stan Wawrinka's season has caught a snag, with the latest stumble at the hands of Dimitrov.

The Swiss started the season strongly, winning in Chennai and Rotterdam. However, in his last four tournaments, he has failed to play more than two matches in each event.

Both Wawrinka and Dimitrov needed to turn their seasons around. While Wawrinka doesn't have the pressure of living up to prodigy-like status, his maiden Grand Slam title last year has yet to be followed up by another major final appearance.

It was the nature of the defeat to Dimitrov that compounded his most recent early exit. Losing 6-1, 6-2 to a man threatening to overtake him in the rankings is as clear a sign as any that the young challengers are capable of beating their older rivals.

With Nadal returning to form, it's just one more obstacle Wawrinka could do without in his search for another Slam final at Roland Garros.

Grade: D

Grigor Dimitrov

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

There might be something in the Monte Carlo water.

At times, Dimitrov was transformed from the shadow of himself we've seen recently to something close to the real deal.

Like all elixirs, though, it wore off eventually, culminating in a quarter-final defeat.

For now, the head-scratching failures against Ryan Harrison and Gilles Muller have been put aside. Although after losing one set 6-0 to Harrison in Acapulco, Dimitrov's form could only improve.

Emerging from his slump this year, Dimitrov battled past Fabio Fognini and dispatched Wawrinka to reach the quarters.

The wonderfully enigmatic Gael Monfils won 6-1, 6-3 to curb Dimitrov's path to the final. However, the Bulgarian's world, layered with expectation, seems a little brighter now.

Grade: B-