MONTE CARLO, (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s honeymoon  at the Monte Carlo Masters ended abruptly when he went down 6-4  7-5 to fellow Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in the third round yesterday.

World number three Novak Djokovic made sure he did not  suffer the same fate as Federer when he overcame a second set  hiccup to tame Spain’s Albert Montanes 6-1 6-7 6-0.

Djokovic and Wawrinka were among the few lucky players to  complete their matches as top seed Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray  were frustrated by the thunderstorms that wiped out most of the  day’s play.

Federer and Wawrinka are close friends and captured the  Olympic doubles title together in Beijing but yesterday  Wawrinka was in no mood to be charitable towards his more  celebrated, and newly married, countryman.

However, once the 13th seed had sealed his first career win  over Federer, his celebrations were rather muted.

“It was not an easy match but of course I am happy to have  won it,” Wawrinka said after completing the match that had been  delayed by more than five hours due to rain.

“It is maybe not the most spectacular tennis but it’s my  most beautiful victory, yes.

“(But) I am a bit embarrassed to celebrate it.”

Wawrinka will face Andreas Beck for a place in the last four  after the German qualifier beat Argentine Juan Monaco 3-6 6-2  7-5.

Federer, who married his longtime girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec  on Saturday, decided to take part in the European season’s  opening claycourt tournament in the last minute.

However, a few minutes after being shown the exit, the  second seed refused to blame the defeat on his lack of  preparation.

“Well, it’s the problem for everyone. Nobody had a  preparation. Slim excuse, because it’s the same for everyone,”  he told a press conference.

Federer acknowledged he needed to make some serious  adjustments to his claycourt game.

“I came again this year because it just gives you  information going into your practice sessions, what you need to  work on,” said Federer, runner-up at the principality for the  last three years.

“Today definitely my serve wasn’t working. I haven’t served  my best throughout the season, so I have to make sure I get my  serve back in… because I just don’t hit the spots when I  really want to.”

Federer, who has not won a title this year, struggled with  his serve and Wawrinka snatched a break on his sixth attempt in  the seventh game.

He wrapped up the opening set as the 13-times grand slam  winner netted an easy forehand.

Federer dropped serve in the first game of the second set  but broke straight back, charging to the net to save another  break point at 3-3.

The 27-year-old floundered in the 11th game after sending  yet another forehand wide as Wawrinka was serving for the match.

He had two break points but Wawrinka kept his composure to  save them and wrapped up the win on his first match point with a  backhand winner down the line.