Tsonga beats Wawrinka to reach Monte Carlo semis

MONACO (AP) — Sixth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Stanislas Wawrinka 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Monte Carlo Masters to set up a potential semifinal match with eight-time defending champion Rafael Nadal.

Wawrinka made short work of second-seeded Andy Murray on Thursday and looked well on the way to another win as he held at love to win the first set, clinching it with an ace on the second serve.

But Tsonga took a 4-1 lead in the second set, and the Frenchman tied the match on serve after saving two break points.

Tsonga got the crucial break in the third with a forehand pass down line and held for 5-3.

Wawrinka saved three match points in his next service game, before Tsonga sealed victory with an ace.

Later, Nadal will play Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.