DHAKA: Stanislas Wawrinka won his first Masters 1000 title and denied Roger Federer a maiden Monte Carlo victory with a three-set final win.
Wawrinka, 29, came through 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 to claim only a second win in 15 matches against his fellow Swiss.
Federer, 32, had looked on course to secure one of only three Masters titles to have eluded him after the first set.
But Wawrinka, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, took control from the second set tie-break.
Sunday`s victory ensures he will stay at number three in the world rankings and ahead of Federer as the Swiss number one.
"I can see that when mentally I`m there and I`m fighting, I can beat all the players," said Wawrinka.
"I did an amazing job. I`m really happy after winning my first Grand Slam to win a Masters 1000 so quick. I didn`t expect to."
Wawrinka and Federer are Davis Cup team-mates and their close friendship was evident when, unusually for imminent opponents, they practised together ahead of the final on Sunday morning.
For the first time since 2004, there was no Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo final, the world number one having lost to David Ferrer in the quarter-finals, reports the BBC.
BDST: 0847 HRS, APR 21, 2014