The clay court season begins its build-up to the French Open with the Monte Carlo Masters this week, and Sky Sports expert Barry Cowan has been pondering the big talking points. Outlet Air Max Cheap . Can Murray use Monte Carlo to find form for Roland Garros?For Andy, he has become a great clay court player. Where Andy has a slight disadvantage is that hes not as good stepping onto clay on the first day as the likes of Djokovic, Nadal or even Roger Federer. Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic could meet again in Monte Carlo Murray takes a while to play his best tennis. Every match he plays this week, hell benefit from it going towards the French Open.For Andy its not about winning this week. Its about building momentum. He will put the disappointment of Indian Wells behind him, which is always a difficult period for him. Well start to see Andy play his best tennis. Will it be here in Monte Carlo? I dont know. Murrays route to final Who could he play? Is Djokovic the favourite once again? Novak Djokovic most recently won the Miami Open It certainly looks that way. Its astonishing what Novak is able to do on all surfaces. Hes head and shoulders above the rest. This week is fairly comfortable for him because its his home tournament, as such. Its where he lives, Monte Carlo. Hes played well there in the past few years and, a couple of times, has been a winner.But can he complete a career Grand Slam with a French Open title?For every win he has over the next five or six weeks, every press conference will have the question: Can you cope with the pressure of the French Open? Novak Djokovic celebrates his 2015 Monte Carlo win Last year, I was surprised - I think of most of were surprised - with what happened in the final, and with what Stan Wawrinka produced on the clay. Incredible tennis, his best match ever.But Novak is a better player now than he was a year ago, I think mentally he is even stronger. He is winning so many matches in the mind - not a lot of players believe they can beat Novak when it gets to the crucial stages.Is Djokovic likely to be knocked off the top spot?I expect more of the same - who else can challenge? Who else can step up to the plate? At the moment theres not a long list. Dominic Thiem gave Djokovic a rough ride in Miami But new people emerge. Dominic Thiem has emerged in the past few weeks and I was really impressed with how he played in Miami against Novak.Nadal is traditionally the clay king - but can he still cut it?Its a great topic of conversation. If I look at Rafa last year, and at Rafa throughout all of 2015, could he get back to his best? I felt it would be the clay court season where Rafa would get back to his best because hes able to hit a large repetition of shots and build up confidence. Rafael Nadal has tasted success in Monte Carlo But I look at his performances on clay and on quicker surfaces in the past 12 months and I think hes a better player. The quicker surfaces take away the indecision and doubt that is clearly in Rafas mind.Theres so much doubt in his mind. Buenos Aires and Rio, which were in February after the Australian Open, he wasnt convincing. It will be a fascinating week to see if Rafa can back himself. Its remarkable to say that, given he has won this title eight times and dominated the clay court season for the past decade.Watch the Monte Carlo Masters live on Sky Sports all week. Also See: ATP schedule Tennis on Sky Latest scores Get a NOW TV pass Video Air Max Sneakers On Sale . HEROES Alex Ovechkin – Scored a pair of goals in Washington’s 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. With 13 goals in the past 13 games, Ovechkin now has 29 goals on the season to lead the league. Wholesale Air Max 200 .com) - John Wall supplied 24 points and 11 assists in leading the Washington Wizards to a 102-91 win over the New York Knicks on Christmas Day. http://www.airmaxsneakersonsale.com/cheap-air-max-90.html . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury.NEW YORK -- David Price cant control the trade speculation. The opposing hitters, he can handle them just fine. Price came within one pitch of extending his remarkable strikeout streak, yet still did plenty to lead the resurgent Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Yankees 2-1 on a warm Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory. "Stay here, David," Rays manager Joe Maddon implored. James Loney hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning and the Rays matched their longest win string of the season. Derek Jeter tied Lou Gehrigs team record for doubles as the Yankees equaled their worst skid this year with their fourth loss in a row. Price (7-7) struck out nine -- he fanned at least 10 in each of his previous five starts, and was trying to join Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers to accomplish the feat six straight times. "That wouldve been cool," Price said. The left-hander gave up four hits and was pulled after seven innings and 119 pitches. He fanned Francisco Cervelli for the second out in the bottom of the seventh, then got two strikes on both Yangervis Solarte and Brett Gardner, missed with a couple of close pitches and couldnt quite get strikeout No. 10. In 23 career starts against the Yankees, Price has never reached double digits in strikeouts. The Rays, who spent most of June with the worst record in the majors, have won six of seven. Their recent struggles had fueled talk that Tampa Bay might trade Price before the July 31 deadline. Price has said that the more the Rays win, the better chance he has of staying with his original club. "I just play ball," the 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner said. "Thats my job." Jake McGee pitched a perfect eighth and Grant Balfour worked around a pair of walks in the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances. Maddon has gone to a closer-by-committee approach. He said he picked Balfour this time because of a bit of "karma" -- the manager saw the reliever walking his grandmother into the team hotel lobby earlier in the day. "True," Maddon said. Balfour said his grandmom, in her mid-80s, came from the familys home in Australia to see one game at Yankee Stadium. "Im sure she was happy I was able to get in tonight," Balfour said. New York (41-41) has dropped eight of 10. &quuot;The guys we have, theyve got to get it done. Fake Air Max 90. Thats the bottom line," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "As I said, its not just a couple of guys going, its a number of guys." "No one is going to feel sorry for you," he said. "No one has a magic potion. You just have to grind it out." It was 1-all when Loney hit the first pitch of the sixth from Hiroki Kuroda (5-6) into the Yankees bullpen in right-centre field. His fifth home run of the season gave him 11 RBIs in 14 games. The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Matt Joyce and Evan Longoria opened with singles and, after Loney struck out, Logan Forsythe hit an RBI single. A wild throw on a rundown gave the Yankees a run in the bottom half. Jeter led off with his 534th career double and went to third on Jacoby Ellsburys single. Price trapped Ellsbury with a pickoff throw, but he was hit in the back by shortstop Ben Zobrists throw and Jeter scored. Zobrist is playing shortstop in place of regular starter Yunel Escobar, put on the disabled list before the game because of a sore right shoulder. NOTES: Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long was ejected in the sixth for arguing balls and strikes from the bench. ... Cervelli nearly tumbled over the dugout railing while catching Zobrists foul pop in the first. Maddon helped steady the backup catcher, who started in place of Brian McCann. In the ninth, McCann pinch hit and looked at strike three with a runner on first. After hitting just .221 with nine homers and 36 RBIs at the halfway mark, McCann said hes been "horrible" this season. An All-Star with Atlanta, he signed an $85 million, five-year deal with the Yankees. Girardi said it was just a regular day off for rest. "I believe hes going to hit," Girardi said. "At times, I think hes been a little anxious." ... Tampa Bay RF Kevin Kiermaier and a couple of Rays got into the World Cup spirit, dying their hair red, white and blue to support the U.S. soccer team. ... Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (3-7, 4.14 ERA) starts against LHP Vidal Nuno (2-4, 5.42) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon. ... Johnson remains the last pitcher to strike out at least 10 in six consecutive starts. He did it in 2002 with Arizona. The record is eight in a row by Martinez in 1999 with Boston. ' ' '