Wimbledon: Tsonga Stuns Federer In Epic

Tsonga shocks Federer to reach semis

With a mountain to climb, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga shocked the six-time winner Roger Federer in a five-set epic 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first Wimbledon semi final, third overall. The Swiss, who was chasing his 29^th Grand Slam semi final berth, conceded the victory after three hours despite leading the Frenchman 2-0 at one point.

Tsonga is thus nearing his best Wimbledon performance as the world number 12 continues to impress. Although he won 75 percentage of serve points, Federer lost the game after allowing the Queens finalist to grab three breaks and hit 63 winners, compared to his 57. Tsonga helped himself with 18 aces and 37 net points which propelled him past the third seed who was following a four-set win over Mikhail Youzhny. Stimulated by the huge win over Rafa Nadal at the Queens, Tsonga approached a very uninhibited tennis, dominating the former world leader often, especially in the second part.

The first set saw the Swiss grab an early break in the second game which he eventually converted into a three-game lead and thus a 1-0 overall lead. It took him just 27 minutes to take the minimal advantage and threaten with an easy win. But the second set found the two opponents holding their serves consistently and Tsonga pushing the term into tie-break.

Roger thwarted the Frenchman, whom he was facing for the sixth time, at three to take a 2-0 overall lead after one hour and a half. But things were about to lead to disaster for the Swiss who would become simply unrecognizable. Roger conceded the third term after allowing the French to take an early break in the third game and a two-game lead he managed to keep until the end of the set. Tsonga cut the deficit to one after 40 minutes.

Concerning the fourth term, it looked almost the same. Roger, who can rarely be seen conceding three sets in a row, committed the same mistake, allowing his opponent to break him early in the term for a second straight two-game lead. The French then held his services until the end of the term, without allowing the Swiss to break him back. He thus pushed the game into a decider and a five-set epic.

A dramatic end saw the world number three concede a late break and gift Tsonga one of his biggest victories in career. The Frenchman have gone 2-4 against Roger whom he had previously defeated at the 2009 Montreal Masters.

Said Tsonga at the end of the game: “I was just perfect today. Every time I was feeling like a dream. Even at two sets down, because I was in the quarter-finals again Roger Federer. The stadium was full. I was not ridiculous. I was in my match. I’m the kind of player who likes these big moments. So I hope I will have some more.”

Next up for Tsonga is world number two Novak Djokovic, who is eyeing his first Wimbledon trophy as well as the leading position in ATP. If Rafa Nadal loses in the semi finals and the Serb reaches the final, Nole will become the new world number one. Djokovic ousted Bernard Tomic of Australia in four sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, needing nearly two hours and a half to secure a semi final berth.

The Serb his twice as many aces as his opponent, 14, as well as 39 winners which helped him to avoid a five-set clash. Tomic committed 41 unforced errors, something which hindered him of staying in touch with the victory. Nole committed 27 and managed to break his opponent six times.

Novak first broke the Aussie in the first game of the meeting, managing to build a 3-1 lead at one point and even extended to a four-game one after another late break. As for the second set, it saw Tomic break his opponent in the fourth game and take a 4-1 comprehensive lead he eventually converted into a leveler. As for the third set, it saw the two exchange three breaks, two for the Serb and one for Tomic who managed to evened the score 3-3 at one point.

Unfortunately, the Aussie would concede a late break and thus a 1-2 lead. Finally, the fourth round brought Tomic an early break and even a 3-2 lead he failed to preserve until the end of it. Djokovic broke back in the 11^th game for a 6-5 advantage to serve for the match. He eventually held his last service and secured the progress after a 54-minute late run.

The 24-year-old will meet Tsonga for the eighth time, the head to head series being led by the 26-year-old 5-2, who last defeated the Serb at the 2010 Australian open. Djokovic’s last win dates from the 2009 Miami Masters.

Concerning the first half of the draw, top seed and defending champion Rafa Nadal has reached the semi finals after defeating tenth seed Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Nadal dominated his opponent at almost all facets, finishing the game with a 68 percentage of first serve points, 43 winners and six breaks. On the other side, Fish, who fired 12 aces past the Spanish champion, committed 27 unforced errors and converted just three out of seven break point chances.

Nadal needed nearly three hours to make the progress where Andy Murray expects their 16^th clash. The Spaniard first broke the American in the first game of the opener, but extended his lead even to three games in the seventh term. Fish broke back immediately, but it was too late as Rafa took the first set in just over half an hour.

Regarding the second set, it found the same Nadal taking things under control and grab another early break in the fourth game to power through to a three-game lead without conceding any of his services. As for the third set, it found both players exchanging a couple of early points, one apiece, and Fish pushing things to extreme. The two then went head to head until the 12^th game when the American stunned the main favorite with a late break and a 1-2 overall deficit.

Finally, the decider was dominated by Rafa who, thanks to an early break, he managed to set the pace and take the set in 48 minutes for a remarkable progress. Spaniard’s next opponent Andy Murray has made the easiest progress among the favorites, ousting Feliciano Lopez in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. The fourth seed Scott hit 13 aces past his opponent and won 40 winners compared to Lopez’s 31 who committed 23 unforced errors.

Murray broke the Spaniard three times of ten tries, first occasion in the sixth game of the opener. The 24-year-old took the first set in 41 minutes as Lopez looked by far the second favorite. Concerning the second set, it saw Murray dominate his opponent at all facets. He broke the Spaniard in the fifth game and never let go of his own services, clinching the term in 38 minutes. Finally, the third round looked perfectly the same as the second one. Murray picked up a mid-way break he eventually converted into a two-game lead and a clear victory.

The head to head series between him and Rafa have gone 11-4 to the Spaniard, who has last defeated the Scott at this term’s Roland Garros. Murray’s last win dates from the 2010 Toronto Masters.

Wimbledon Prize Money and points:

Winner – 1,100,000 pounds and 2000 points ATP

Runner-up – 550,000 pounds and 1,200 points ATP

Semi finalist – 275,000 pounds and 720 points ATP

Quarter finalist – 137,500 pounds and 360 points ATP

R16 – 68,750 pounds and 180 points ATP

R32 – 34,375 pounds and 90 points ATP

R64 – 20,125 pounds and 45 points ATP

R128 – 11,500 pounds and 10 points ATP