Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 after a closely fought encounter in the Gillette Federer World Tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday.

The Swiss raced into a 4-2 lead in the opening set, before he was eventually caught by his French counterpart.

Tsonga levelled matters despite finding himself 5-3 down, with the first set eventually being settled on a tie break.

That swung Federer's way, allowing the 2012 Wimbledon champion to exert his authority in the second.

And the 31-year-old dispatched of Tsonga by a more comfortable margin, for a win in front of an adorning crowd.