SHANGHAI 2013: Gael Monfils d. Federer in 3 sets

Roger Federer's horrible season got worse today as he continues to lose to people he holds substantial head-to-head advantages over. Today at the Shanghai Masters the World #7 lost to Gael Monfils for only the second time in 8 meetings. Monfils has incredible athleticism and prodigious talent but he often lacks aggressiveness. That was not the case today in his 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 win, only his second win over a Top 10 player in 2013.

Monfils reaches the quarterfinals where he will face World #1 Novak Djokovic, whom he has lost to in all eight of their previous meetings.

Federer now falls below his countryman Stanislas Wawrinka in the ATP Race to London, which means that Wawrinka is actually having the better year this year. Federer is struggling to qualify for the year end championships for the 12th time, a tournament he has won a record six times. He is now at #8 (and only the Top 8 qualify) with younger hungrier players like Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Milos Raonic all nipping at his heels.