<p> 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 quarterfinals on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Andy Murray though will face the toughest clay test imaginable, with a semifinal against Rafael Nadal, after crushing an under-done Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 on Friday.<br /><br />Earlier, there were glimpses of the formidable Rafael Nadal as the eight-times champion swept aside French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4.<br /><br />Federer, back in action this week following 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.<br /><br />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. Murray, who struggled in the previous round, was never bothered by 10th seed Raonic in a one-sided match.<br /><br />The Briton, who hit 19 winners and did not face single break point, was beaten twice by Nadal in the semifinals of the first claycourt Masters of the season.<br /><br />The fifth-seeded Nadal, who broke decisively in the ninth game of the second set, has yet to win a title this year.<br /><br />"It's exactly what I need, it's what I'm looking for, it gives me confidence," Nadal said.<br />"Every day is a different story," Nadal said. "The last three games of the first set was the only moment Stan didn't play well. Obviously he played with too many mistakes. <br /><br />"But the beginning of the match and the second set was a good match. Both of us played good points. He had more mistakes than me.<br /><br />"I think I played well, I defended well, I moved well. When I had the opportunity, I was trying to have the control of the point with my forehand and with my backhand, too. I'm very happy the way that I played."<br /><br />Nadal raced to victory in 77 minutes against the tepid Swiss, the 2014 winner.<br />The disappointed fourth seed ended with 29 unforced errors while dropping serve four times.<br /><br />"It was not a good day, I rushed at the beginning and I wasn't able to put my game into place," Wawrinka said. "I really need to work on two or three things that I want to improve.”<br /><br />The match with Murray will be a re-run of the Madrid final from last May, when the Scotsman shocked the 14-time major champion.<br /><br />"Andy played a great match, I need to be ready to play the way I am playing the last two matches. If I am able to do it, I hope to have my chances," Nadal said.<br /><br />"I lost a lot of matches before the final last year. Was not a low point. Was a good tournament for me last year in Madrid. I was able to play at a very good level for some matches.”<br /></p>
<p> 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 quarterfinals on Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Andy Murray though will face the toughest clay test imaginable, with a semifinal against Rafael Nadal, after crushing an under-done Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0 on Friday.<br /><br />Earlier, there were glimpses of the formidable Rafael Nadal as the eight-times champion swept aside French Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4.<br /><br />Federer, back in action this week following 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.<br /><br />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. Murray, who struggled in the previous round, was never bothered by 10th seed Raonic in a one-sided match.<br /><br />The Briton, who hit 19 winners and did not face single break point, was beaten twice by Nadal in the semifinals of the first claycourt Masters of the season.<br /><br />The fifth-seeded Nadal, who broke decisively in the ninth game of the second set, has yet to win a title this year.<br /><br />"It's exactly what I need, it's what I'm looking for, it gives me confidence," Nadal said.<br />"Every day is a different story," Nadal said. "The last three games of the first set was the only moment Stan didn't play well. Obviously he played with too many mistakes. <br /><br />"But the beginning of the match and the second set was a good match. Both of us played good points. He had more mistakes than me.<br /><br />"I think I played well, I defended well, I moved well. When I had the opportunity, I was trying to have the control of the point with my forehand and with my backhand, too. I'm very happy the way that I played."<br /><br />Nadal raced to victory in 77 minutes against the tepid Swiss, the 2014 winner.<br />The disappointed fourth seed ended with 29 unforced errors while dropping serve four times.<br /><br />"It was not a good day, I rushed at the beginning and I wasn't able to put my game into place," Wawrinka said. "I really need to work on two or three things that I want to improve.”<br /><br />The match with Murray will be a re-run of the Madrid final from last May, when the Scotsman shocked the 14-time major champion.<br /><br />"Andy played a great match, I need to be ready to play the way I am playing the last two matches. If I am able to do it, I hope to have my chances," Nadal said.<br /><br />"I lost a lot of matches before the final last year. Was not a low point. Was a good tournament for me last year in Madrid. I was able to play at a very good level for some matches.”<br /></p>
