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Tsonga celebrates birthday with hard-fought victory

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrated his birthday © Getty Images

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World No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame a sluggish day on court to defeat Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday.

Tsonga, the fourth seed this week, looked flat for much of the contest but dug deep at crucial junctures to claim a 6-2 6-4 victory. The result was perhaps harsh on Kohlschreiber but his opponent left overjoyed - as he celebrated his 27th birthday with the right result.

The Frenchman was comfortable on his own serve throughout the contest, but took until Kohlschreiber's third service game before making any sort of impact - suddenly wielding a deadly forehand to seal the first break of the contest.

He then narrowly held the next game, before breaking once again to claim the first set with a more one-sided scoreline than the action really warranted.

Kohlschreiber's varied play gained greater dividends in the second stanza, but he ultimately crumbled under the pressure of the contest with the score 5-4 in Tsonga's favour - once again falling to some powerful hits as tightness cost him dear.

Tsonga will now face Fernando Verdasco in the last 16, after the 16th seed defeated Ivan Dodig 3-6 6-3 6-1 in just shy of two hours.

Having only arrived in Monte Carlo on Monday night after his victory at the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston on Sunday, Juan Monaco's Monte Carlo campaign was shortlived. The Argentine was leading Dutch opponent Robin Haase in the third set, but was forced to offer his hand after landing awkwardly on his ankle.

No. 12 seed Kei Nishikori beat Albert Ramos 6-2 7-5, while Marin Cilic saw off Simone Bolelli 6-3 6-4.

Elsewhere, there were first round victories for Andreas Seppi, Fabio Fognini, Tomaz Bellucci, Potito Starace and Filippo Volandri.

Two qualifiers also had surprise triumphs - with Frederico Gil knocking out Mikhail Youzhny 6-1 6-3 and Mikhail Kukushkin seeing off 14th seed Florian Mayer 3-6 6-1 6-3.

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