Ernests Gulbis starts defence

Ernests Gulbis must shake off a dismal 2015 record if he is to successfully defend the Open de Nice Cote d'Azur.

The Latvian enjoyed a successful 2014 and won two of his six ATP career titles last season.

However, Gulbis returns to the clay courts in Nice badly in need of a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming French Open.

The world number 22 has endured a poor 2015 season in which his record reads 1-10, his solitary victory coming against Daniel Gimeno-Traver in Indian Wells in March.

And with a stellar cast on show in Nice he will face a difficult run to defend his crown.

Home-favourite Gilles Simon is the top-ranked player on show. The Frenchman has reached the semi-finals of the tournament on two occasions and with 12 ATP titles to his name is sure to be among the front-runners this time around.

Big-serving American John Isner is also in action, as are Australian duo Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios.

Since returning to the ATP Tour in 2010, the event has been won by Spaniards on three out of five occasions.

That should provide Guillermo Garcia-Lopez with plenty of confidence as he seeks a third title of the season in what has already been a superb 2015 for the world number 28.