• Wimbledon, Day Nine

Fed dumped out as Djokovic and Rafa survive wobbles

ESPN staff
June 29, 2011
Roger Federer threw away a two-set lead against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga © Getty Images
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Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer threw away a two-set lead as he was dumped out by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The No. 3 seed looked to be well on course for victory after storming to a two-set lead, but Tsonga produced an enthralling fightback to condemn Federer to a 3-6 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4 6-4 defeat.

Federer has been in ominous form at the All England Club, and he got off to a blistering start against Tsonga, breaking the Frenchman in his opening service game as he raced to a 3-0 lead before strolling through the opening set.

As Tsonga began to settle into his rhythm, chances were limited for both players and a second-set tiebreak seemed inevitable. Despite having matched the Swiss blow-for-blow, all Tsonga's hard work was undone in the tiebreak as he struggled to deal with the low bounce on the Federer backhand. Although he saved two set points, it was too little too late as Federer tightened his grip on the match to move within one set of victory.

Federer had never thrown away a two-set lead at a grand slam, and it looked like it would be a bridge too far for Tsonga. But just as it looked like mission impossible, the No. 12 seed capitalised on a couple of uncharacteristic errors from Federer to snatch an early break in the third set with a stunning winner down the line.

Federer was unable to find a way past the Tsonga serve, but it still looked like it was merely a brief wobble, with the fans on Centre Court expecting Federer to up his game and wrap up the match in four sets.

But it was Tsonga who was firmly in the ascendancy, and with the kind of play that Federer would have been proud of, Tsonga broke early in the fourth - a stunning passing shot followed by a volley winner, and he served impeccably to force the match to a decider.

It was more of the same as Tsonga took the game to Federer, snatching a break in Federer's first service game, and the Frenchman held his nerve to claim one of the biggest wins of his career.

Rafael Nadal will meet Andy Murray in the semi-finals © Getty Images
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Tsonga will now meet No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals after the Serb survived a major scare against Australian teenager Bernard Tomic.

Tomic, who had to come through three rounds of qualifying, had already claimed the scalp of Nikolay Davydenko and Robin Soderling, and it looked like there could be another upset on the cards when the 18-year-old fought back from a set down to level before snatching a break in the third.

However, Djokovic produced a remarkable turnaround from 3-1 down in the third set to claim a 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory.

Meanwhile, World No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal set up a fascinating last-four clash with Britain's Andy Murray after battling past Mardy Fish 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-4.

The Spaniard showed no ill-effects from the foot injury he picked up during his victory against Juan Martin del Potro in the previous round, easing through the first two sets.

Fish showed heart to fight back and take a tight third set, but Nadal was not to be outdone, completing a deserved victory to book his passage to a 16th Grand Slam semi-final.

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