It’s the upset (shocking upset) of the tournament, and perhaps the decade. For the first time holding a two sets to love lead, after 178 matches in grand slam play, Roger Federer, lost. He lost 3-6 6-7 (3) 6-4 6-4 6-4 to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon. Looking very casual and routine was Federer after winning the second set in a tiebreaker until he went down a break early in the third set. Then Tsonga began going for much more, “throwing the kitchen sink at Federer,” and it led to a very different result. One break in the fourth and fifth sets, and Federer was done. Tsonga was going for broke and along the way came up with fantastic volleys, winning almost every intangible point contested.
Federer gave credit to Tsonga after the match, telling reporters:
“It’s kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes. At least it took him sort of a special performance to beat me, which is somewhat nice.”
“He can come up with some good stuff and some poor things at times. 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.”
Federer is now 178-1 when having a two sets to love lead in grand slam play. Not much else to say especially after a shocking loss like this.
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