SENSATIONAL RESULT 3-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 HISTORIC WIN FRANCE'S JO-WILFRIED TSONGA (above) bludgeoned Roger Federer (right) to an historic defeat to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals on Wednesday, as the Swiss star suffered his first ever Grand Slam loss after being two sets up THE LOSS WAS SIX-TIME champion Federer's second successive quarterfinal defeat at the All England Club THE LOSS WILL CAST a shadow over Federer's bid to match Pete Sampras's record of 7 Wimbledon titlesRoger Federer's dreams of a seventh Wimbledon title were shattered by an extraordinary comeback from Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who won an epic quarter-final 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday.
It was the first time the third seed has lost a Grand Slam match having been two sets up and it condemned the 16-times major champion to a second Wimbledon quarter-final exit in a row.
“It was just amazing today, I played unbelievable, everything was in,“ Tsonga said.
“That's crazy, he is the biggest champion in my sport, he champion in my spo achieved a lot of thing He is the best player in the world and I'm just so happy to beat him, especially on grass as it is one of his best surfaces.“ GOOD START Federer, bidding for a recordequalling seventh title, glided through the first set and never looked in danger in the second set or tiebreak as Tsonga showed few signs that he was capable of making a scrap of it.
However, the 12th seed soon found his groove with his immense energy and athleticism suddenly worrying Federer, who was dumped out by Tomas Berdych at the same stage last year.
Tsonga broke for 2-1 in the third and fourth sets and held out thanks to some rasping groundstrokes and trademark volleys.
His raw power threatened to completely stifle Federer, who failed to raise his game and slipped a break down at the start of the fifth set when he netted.
Federer could do nothing to halt Tsonga's momentum with the Frenchman piling into every stroke with all his might to reach a third Grand Slam semi and set up a meeting with Novak Djokovic on Friday.
“I think Jo played great from start to finish, I don't remember a break point after the first game,“ Federer told a news conference.
“Except the score, many, many things went right. I'm pretty pleased with my performance, it's hard going out of the tournament that way. I think he played an amazing match, he didn't give me many chances.“
One of the keys to Federer's incredible success over the years has been his coolness under pressure but it was his very lack of emotion as the match began to slip away which seemed to slip away which seemed to be his undoing.
When other players would have slammed the racket against the ground or screamed at themselves to snap out of their malaise, the 29of their malaise, the 29year-old passively continued to play the same way despite desperately needing a break.
In contrast, Tsonga looked a beaten man at the end of the second set but somehow found a second wind with the Centre Court crowd urging him on despite their attachment to Federer.
The Frenchman loves to dive around on the grass and his entertainment value meant the fans, including golf great Jack Nicklaus, were enthralled by his stunning comeback.
DJOKOVIC KEEPS COOL A subdued Djokovic ended the dream run of 18-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic with a 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory.
“I'm delighted to be through it's a great result but was a very even match,“ Djokovic said.
“I played very well to start with but I played one very bad service game and he got back into the match and from that moment on he was the better player.“
The Serbian second seed, bidding for his first Wimbledon title and the world number one ranking, cruised through the opening set. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING I played unbelievable, everything was in. That's crazy, he is the biggest champion in my sport, he achieved a lot of things. He is the best player in the world and I'm just so happy to beat him, especially on grass as it is one of his best surfaces.
JO-WILFRIED TSONGA I think Jo played great from start to finish. Except the score, many, many things went right. I'm pretty pleased with my performance, it's hard going out of the tournament that way. I think he played an amazing match, he didn't give me many chances.
ROGER FEDERER If you break down his game and what he's been able to do on all surfaces, he's only 24 and he's got 10 majors, you do the math. Obviously, I think he's going to pass me at some stage.
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