Federer upset by Benneteau in Paris Masters

PARIS, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- World number one Roger Federer was stunned by unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in the second round at the Paris Masters tennis tournament on Wednesday.

Roger Federer of Switzerland leaves the court after by defeated by Julien Benneteau of France in the Paris Masters tennis tournament November 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Federer's exit capped a dramatic day at the Bercy arena, where Rafael Nadal saved five match points to beat Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro, and former three-time champion Marat Safin bid farewell to the tennis circuit.

The Swiss master looked on course for another easy victory after cruising through the first set but came unstuck in the second as uncharacteristic errors began to creep into his game.

And the Frenchman started to find his range, dominating the tiebreaker of the second set, leveling the match with a low return that landed just inside the baseline.