The 11th seed served impressively in the opening set of the match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, but proved unable to claim a decisive break against Bellucci.

Raonic eventually triumphed in the tie-breaker and proceeded to dominate the duration of the second set to claim an impressive 7-6, 6-1 victory on the clay surface.

The Montenegrin-born player, who has moved back into the top 10 on the ATP rankings, will now face the challenge of Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov, who beat the United States’ Steve Johnson 3-6, 6-3, 7-6.

Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov also progressed into the second round after overcoming Serbia’s Viktor Troicki in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, but will now face the daunting challenge of home favourite Rafael Nadal, who had benefited from a bye.

Nadal, winner of last month’s Monte Carlo Masters, will be seeking to go one stage further than at the 2015 edition of the tournament, where he was beaten by Britain’s Andy Murray in the final.

The defending champion was one of several top seeds to receive a bye through the first round, however Switzerland’s three-time winner Roger Federer has been forced to withdraw with a back injury.

Women’s world number one Serena Williams is also absent due to illness, with Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka looking to take full advantage and earn her third WTA tour title of the year.

The 26-year-old, who won in both Miami and Indian Wells, moved into the third round of the tournament in convincing fashion by defeating France’s Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-2.

Azarenka will face the winner of the match between Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic and American qualifier Louisa Chirico.

Australia’s rising star Daria Gavrilova also sealed progression to the third round, as the Russian-born player upset 13th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-2, 7-6.

Gavrilova will begin as the underdog again in her next match, where she will face the Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova, who was a 6-3, 6-3 winner against Russia’s Elena Vesnina.