Radek Stepanek beats Ivo Karlovic in Monte Carlo Masters

Radek Stepanek has booked his place in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters with a straight-sets victory over Ivo Karlovic.

The Czech player began the first set strongly, breaking in Karlovic's first service game on his way establishing a 3-0 advantage. Karlovic then allowed Stepanek to break once more as he went on to take the first set 6-1.

The world number 41 continued his domination in the second set as he raced into a 4-0 lead, with Karlovic losing two of his service games.

Karlovic offered some resistance as he reduced the score to 5-2, but Stepanek served out the set 6-2 to comfortably progress into the next round.