Estrella Burgos, who has won the title the last three years, on Monday in his opening round edged Thomaz Bellucci 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. It was the fourth year in a row Estrella Burgos faced Bellucci after beating him in the 2015 semifinals, the 2016 final, and the 2017 semis.

Former Brazilian No. 1 has been serving a silent ban since September 1.

Two Top 10ers make Istanbul the top event this week…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…Matches to watch for in the 1st rd. include (5) Troicki vs. the big-match Baghdatis, and (8) Darcis vs. Sela to see who can hit their way out of that paper bag…

“My body has just physically run out of gas after this week,” said Johnson, who cramped during the final. “Coming in from Australia kind of put me behind the eight ball and then the nerves of trying to close out the final, a lot of factors go into cramping. I was very fortunate to get out of that.”

Interesting starts for (1) Sock against the Haas-Opelka winner, (6) Lopez vs. the former French juniors winner Fratangelo, (4) Johnson vs. the experienced dirt-baller and defending champ Monaco, (5) Verdasco vs. the big-serving South African Anderson, and (8) Bellucci vs. the emerging American Tiafoe

Kei Nishikori suffered a first round loss for the first time in over a year.

Semifinals take place Saturday in Asia on the ATP.

Sean Randall makes his picks for the semifinals a the Rio Olympics.

Rafael Nadal will have to play three matches Wednesday in three different events.

.(1) Cuevas could have a difficult start against G-Lo, and (6) Carreno Busta “Rhymes” starts against the veteran Seppi…

“After the first set I had to change,” Djokovic said. “First set was a complete Bellucci storm, and I was blown away from the court. Fortunately the matches are played in best of three, so I had another opportunity to come back and to restart, which I did.”

No Top 20 players, but Istanbul you do have Bernie “The Tank Engine” Tomic! For at least a round…

Nishikori is the two-time defending champion, last year beating Andujar in the final…”I am happy to be back in Barcelona. I feel good and hope to win my third consecutive title here,” Nishikori said…Nadal won the title in eight of nine years prior to that…

Pulling from the tournament were Roger Federer (knee surgery) and Janko Tipsarevic…The absent Federer is the two-time defending champ, beating Djokovic in last year’s final…Federer and Djokovic have won the last seven titles between them…Djokovic (2013,’11-09) is the lone former champ in the field.

Men’s Notes: Three Top 10 players in the field…What are Americans Isner and Sock doing here?…Not a lot of floating talent in the field…(1) Nadal looking at a second round meeting with Almagro, and (8) Bellucci starts against former finalist The Dog…