Monfils made Federer pay for his profligacy in the final set

Top seed Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat in the Paris Masters semi-finals as Frenchman Gael Monfils claimed a 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Federer, yet to win the Paris title, squandered five match points in the 12th game of the deciding set.

Monfils served out in the third tie-break to win in two hours 41 minutes.

In Sunday's final, Monfils will play Sweden's Robin Soderling, who saved three match points to beat Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-7 (0-7) 7-5 7-6 (8-6).

The fourth seed won through after a match lasting over two and three-quarter hours.

Llodra was one point from victory at 6-5 in the deciding set but failed to capitalise on his opportunity.

"It is my third final in Paris, I hope I'll win this one," said Soderling, twice runner-up at the French Open.

Monfils had lost all five of his previous meetings with world number two Federer, but he took a well contested first set when his illustrious opponent netted a forehand at 7-8 down in the tie-break.

The second set was also keenly contested but Federer produced some imperious strokes to take the tie-break with ease.

He then raced to a 4-1 lead in the deciding set but world number 14 Monfils delighted the crowd with a battling response to book his place in the final.

"I went to the limits of myself," said the jubilant and exhausted 24-year-old.

"I feel better and better as the tournament goes on. I ran out of juice a little bit at the start of the third set but the fans were there, they pushed me and I kept believing."

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