The French Open will pay total prize money of more than €25million (£21m) this year.

The singles champions will each receive €1.65m - an increase of €150,000 on the cheques picked up last year by Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams.

Players beaten in the second and third rounds will be handed 20% more prize money than last year - €42,000 and €72,000 respectively - with fourth-round losers taking home €125,000, a 25% increase.

Tournament director Gilbert Ysern said: "This significant increase specifically targets players eliminated in the first week."

The French Open, the year's second Grand Slam, begins in Paris on May 25.

Novak Djokovic made a convincing start to the defence of his Monte Carlo Rolex Masters title, beating Albert Montanes 6-0, 6-1 in just 45 minutes.

Also into the third round is ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but the Frenchman had a much tougher time in beating Germany's Philipp Kohl-Schreiber 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.