Roger Federer was knocked out of the Monte Carlo Masters when he slumped to a 3-6 6-2 7-5 defeat by local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals on Friday. The Swiss third seed, back in action this week after a 10-week layoff, started brightly as he breezed through the opening set but Tsonga, targeting Federer’s forehand, played tighter and levelled with a strong display in the second.
The Frenchman broke in the 11th game of the decider with a passing shot winner and he closed it out on serve on his first match point to set up a meeting with either compatriot Gael Monfils or Spain’s Marcel Granollers.