The world tennis number one Roger Federer has been beaten by the defending champion Alberto Montanes in the semi-finals of the Portugal Open.
The Swiss, who was the Estoril champion in 2008, was ambushed 6-2 7-6 (7-5) on a slow, rain-soaked court by the Spanish specialist, who he'd beaten in three previous meetings.
Federer now goes into his title defence at the Madrid Masters ahead of the French Open with a 2-2 record on clay this year.
But despite going down in just under 90 minutes, he says he's looking ahead with quiet optimism.
Montanes will face off in Monday's final against the winner from fifth seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez's encounter with Portugal's Frederico Gil.
