France’s Jo-Wilfred Tsonga pulled off  what was thought to be the nearly impossible – rallying from two sets down to send six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer packing on Wednesday 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals. “I was two sets down and I break. I did a good game of return and after that it was just amazing,†said Tsonga, “I just played unbelievable, served unbelievable and now I’m here, I’m in semifinal and I can’t believe it.â€
“It’s kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes,†said Federer. “At least it took him sort of a special performance to beat me, which is somewhat nice.†It’s the first time that Federer lost a match leading by two sets to none in a major. Federer also lost a match in Davis Cup against Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 and to David Nalbandian in 2005 in the finals of the year-end Masters Cup in Shanghai.
“He can come up with some good stuff and some poor things at times,†Federer said. “He had basically good return games along the way in the third, fourth, and fifth. I think especially the third set, the break I get is very unusual. He chips back a couple, they stay in.â€
Tsonga will face second-seeded Novak Djokovic, who stopped 18-year-old Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Rafael Nadal , who appears to be over his foot injury also advanced, beating Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. “Today it was better. The treatment worked and I’m fine. I’m here,†said Nadal. The defending champion will face Andy Murray next, who defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s the biggest champion in my sport,†said Tsonga said. “He achieved a lot of things and he’s just the best player in the world and I’m just so happy to win against him, especially on grass because it’s maybe one of his favorite surface and I’m just so happy today.â€
Wimbledon – Day 9 Results
Wimbledon Order of Play for June 30