Six-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer had a swift exit from the tournament this week after he blew a two-set lead against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the quarterfinals. Despite taking the first two sets, Federer couldn’t close the match and was defeated 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. It was the first time in 178 matches that Federer ever lost after winning the first two sets.
“It was just amazing,” Tsonga said of his victory. “I played unbelievable. Everything was in. I was two sets down, and I broke. I did a good game of return, and after that, it was just amazing. I served unbelievable.”
The news came as a shock to many tennis fans, who expected Federer — along with Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal — to easily advance to the quarterfinals. Federer, Djokovic and Nadal have won 25 of the last 26 Grand Slam titles, rounding out a big three of tennis champions.
This is the second year in a row that Federer has fallen in the quarterfinals. Last year, he was defeated by Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Tsonga will now face no. 2 seed Djokovic in the semifinals. Djokovic won his quarterfinals match in four sets against Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
