Roger Federer has suffered a shock defeat to Frenchman Gilles Simon in the second round of the Toronto Masters Series.

Back on court for the first time since his epic loss to Spain's Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final, Federer was beaten 2-6, 7-5, 6-4. His number one ranking is now under serious threat from Nadal, who beat American qualifier Jesse Levine 6-4 6-2.

Federer, a finalist last year and a winner of the tournament in 2004 and 2006, became the first top seeded player to lose in his first match here since Australian Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.

It was also the first time Federer had lost his opening match in a tournament since falling to Andy Murray in Dubai in March.

"The hard court season just started so it is not the end of the world but I wish I could have started better," Federer told reporters. "I like this surface, I like this tournament, I have done well in the past here so it definitely hurts."


"I have to regroup and look forward. The bigger picture is the Olympic Games and the U.S. Open and those are the places I really want to win so I have to make sure I am ready for that."

Simon, meanwhile, was well into his hardcourt campaign after claiming his fourth career win and second title of the season in Indianapolis with a straight-sets victory over Russian Dmitry Tursunov.

"I was playing like I was in a dream," Simon said. "I just saw the ball and hit it as hard as possible."

"I don't know it is really unbelievable to beat Roger like this. I'm so confident actually because I won the tournament last week."

"For sure this is my best victory. I don't think that you win so many times against the number one."


(source Reuters, photo/Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Federer crashes out of Toronto Masters