Monte Carlo Masters Draw Results 2016: Player Seedings, Brackets and Reaction

King of the Monte Carlo Masters Rafa Nadal managed to sidestep Novak Djokovic in the draw for the 2016 tournament, with the world No. 1 not coming on to his radar until the final.

Nadal won the Masters eight years in a row from 2005 to 2012, although Djokovic has reigned supreme in two of the last three competitions in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

The Serb finds himself alongside David Ferrer, Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Section 1, while Andy Murray joins Nadal in Section 2.

Here’s a look at the full draw, via Sky Sport's Barbara Grassi, and seedings for the Monte Carlo Masters 2016:

Seed	Player
1	Novak Djokovic
2	Andy Murray
3	Roger Federer
4	Stan Wawrinka
5	Rafael Nadal
6	Tomas Berdych
7	David Ferrer
8	Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
9	Richard Gasquet
10	Milos Raonic
11	David Goffin
12	Dominic Thiem
13	Gael Monfils
14	Roberto Bautista Agut
15	Gilles Simon
16	Benoit Paire

Nadal On Cloud Nine?

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

Nadal may have struggled a bit of late, but there’s something about the Monte Carlo Masters that seems to bring out his best tennis.

Indeed, he wasn’t playing particularly well before the tournament last year, but he managed to grind his way to the semi-finals before falling to an inspired Djokovic.

In fact, the world No. 1 has knocked out Nadal in two of the last three tournaments, so it’ll be music to the Spaniard’s ears that he doesn’t have to face him until the final.

Naturally, Federer, Murray, Nadal and Djokovic are the four expected to do the business on clay in France, and the potential quarter-final lineup makes for interesting reading—per ByTheMin Tennis:

Nadal has a good-looking route to the last eight, yet his third-round tie could prove tricky.

The Spaniard is likely to face Dominic Thiem, who has already caused an upset against Nadal on clay back in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in February.

Taking on Stan Wawrinka in the quarters will prove anything but easy, too. Here’s a look at Nadal’s potential route to his ninth title, via Tennis World’s Luigi Gatto:

Djokovic remains the man to beat, though. Hell bent on glory at this year’s French Open, the Serbian’s preparation will start in Monte Carlo.

You’d think victory at Rolland Garros was something of an inevitability with the way Djokovic is playing. Nadal said it best at last week’s Miami Open, labelling him unplayable—via We Are Tennis:

Federer could well have something to say about that, though.

The Swiss star makes his return to action after undergoing knee surgery, and his draw looks rather generous up until the semi-final stage—via Gatto:

Federer has come second in Monte Carlo on four occasions yet never tasted victory, although if he’s sharp enough after his lengthy lay-off, he could break that duck in 2016.

Murray, meanwhile, enjoyed a great year on clay in 2015 and will hope to pick up from where he left off in Monte Carlo.

And as MailOnline Sport’s Stu Fraser revealed, the Scot has a routine start to his tournament:

Murray’s quarter-final tie against one of Tomas Berdych or Milos Raonic won’t be so easy, and that could throw up one of the games of the tournament.

It’s all set to be a truly exciting tournament in Monte Carlo, as there are so many burning questions that need answering.

Can Nadal pick up his ninth title? Will Federer make a winning return to tennis? Can anyone possibly find a way to stop Djokovic?