On Tuesday, the New Balls Please campaign asserted themselves early on the clay courts of Monte Carlo.

Opening his campaign at this year's Tennis Masters Series Monte Carlo, Swedish No. 3 seed Magnus Norman disposed of Frenchman Nicolas Escude in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, to advance in pursuit of his first title of the year.

In a first-time match-up between the players, the New Balls Please star Norman, a two-time finalist this year at Sydney and Scottsdale, converted four of five breakpoint opportunities to put away this year's winner at Rotterdam in 59 minutes.

In the second round, Norman will seek to keep perfect his 4-0 lifetime ATP record against Morocco's Hicham Arazi, who scored a retirement victory over Argentina's Mariano Puerta on Monday.

Source: ATP Tennis