Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's last-ever appearance at the Monte Carlo Masters ended in defeat to Croatia's Marin Cilic in straight sets in Monday's first-round battle.
The 36-year-old - who has announced that he will retire from competitive tennis after the French Open - went down 2-6 2-6 to Cilic, who was in ruthless form on Court Rainier III.
A double fault on the very first point did not set Tsonga up well for the opening set and he was broken straight away with a delightful cross-court forehand winner from Cilic, who stormed into a 3-0 lead with a second break not long after.
Tsonga managed to hold for 4-1 and 5-2 after clawing his way back into the match, but Cilic confidently served for the set with new balls and clinched it with a cheeky dropshot.
The Frenchman found himself a break point down in the first game of the second set but brought it to deuce with one of his two aces on the day and served for the game.
With the two players unable to be separated at 2-2, Cilic quickly rediscovered his merciless streak to break twice more - winning 86% of points on his first serve - as Tsonga's final Monte Carlo appearance came to an end at the first hurdle.
Cilic - who has never made it past the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters - will now face either Taylor Fritz or Monaco wildcard Lucas Catarina in the second round. body check tags ::
