The victory, in just over two and a quarter hours yesterday, marked another disappointment for Murray, who has not won a title since his historic success at Wimbledon 13 months ago.
The 27-year-old Tsonga's highlights this season have been limited to a pair of semi-finals, at Acapulco and Roland Garros.
Murray, who led 3-0 in the deciding set, had not played this week since the second round after receiving a walkover when Richard Gasquet withdrew from their scheduled third round clash with an abdominal strain.
"If you've had a break for a while, ideally you want to try and play as many matches as you can.
"Tennis and sport really can change a lot from one day to the next. Jo is a top player. He's a fantastic athlete. When his game is on, he's very tough to beat."
It was the second upset of a top 10 player in as many days for Tsonga, who knocked out world number one Novak Djokovic in the third round.
The Frenchman will next play Grigor Dimitrov after the seventh seed beat South African Kevin Anderson 5-7 7-5 7-6 (8/6) in a match lasting three hours.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
