Roger Federer won The 800th Match Of His Storied Career

PARIS: Tennis icon Roger Federer won the 800th match of his storied career on Friday with a 6-3, 7-5 defeat of Argentine Juan Monaco to set up a semi-final at the Paris Master with Tomas Berdych.

The Swiss holder of a record 16 grand slam titles, who lifted his 68th trophy last weekend in Basel, claimed both his first and his most recent wins in France, scoring his first ATP success in September, 1998, in Toulouse over Frenchman Guillaume Raoux.

Federer ended after just under 90 minutes against Monaco with his seventh ace, lifting his record to 57-12 on the season. He is the seventh man in tennis history to break the 800-win barrier.

He has also won his last 62 matches against players ranked outside the Top 20 as he beat number 34 Monaco.

Earlier Berdych outlasted second seed Andy Murray in a marathon battle of missed opportunities 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

The frustrated Murray ended with a forehand wide on a second match point for fifth seed Berdych, who qualified into the field for the year-end World Tour Finals starting a week from Sunday in London.

The struggle lasted for nearly three-and-a-quarter hours, with Murray missing on 15 of 17 break point chances and Berdych managing to break only twice from 14 opportunities.

Murray will head home to London to prepare for the eight-man season wrap-up without having ever reached a semi at the Bercy arena.

Berdych now stands 3-1 over Murray in their series, winning their last three dating to 2006 and including a victory last year at Roland Garros.

Off court, top seed Novak Djokovic pulled out to hand Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a walkover into the last four due to a shoulder injury.

The Serb world number one said his shoulder had worsened after his 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over compatriot Viktor Troicki on Thursday.

With players for the eight-man World Tour Finals due in London on Thursday, the timetable gives Djokovic at least six treatment days.

Tsonga next plays American John Isner who ousted fourth seeded Spaniard David Ferrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. (AFP)

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