{"id":4736,"date":"2013-06-04T19:25:46","date_gmt":"2013-06-04T19:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigeria-news\/tsonga-mauls-federer-for-semi-finals\/"},"modified":"2013-06-04T19:25:46","modified_gmt":"2013-06-04T19:25:46","slug":"tsonga-mauls-federer-for-semi-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/tsonga-mauls-federer-for-semi-finals\/","title":{"rendered":"Tsonga mauls Federer for semi-finals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent Roger Federer crashing out of the French Open quarter-finals Tuesday to take a step closer to ending France’s 30-year wait for a men’s champion at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n

AFP reports that sixth-seed Tsonga swept to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 triumph to reach his first semi-final in Paris and first by a home player since Gael Monfils in 2008.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old will tackle Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer for a place in Sunday’s final.<\/p>\n

Victory also helped wipe out the misery of his quarter-final in Paris last year where he had four match points over Novak Djokovic and lost in five sets. <\/p>\n

\"France's <\/p>\n

France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates victory over Federer<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Roger <\/p>\n

Roger Federer- stunned<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

“It’s extraordinary to be here and to have won,” said Tsonga, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Yannick Noah, France’s last men’s champion in Paris in 1983.<\/p>\n

“I never dreamt of this moment. Today was my moment against a champion who has won everything.<\/p>\n

“I didn’t think I would get this far without losing a set. But Ferrer has not lost a set as well, he’s in great form.”<\/p>\n

Federer, in his 36th consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final, was bidding to win a record 58th career match at Roland Garros and reach his 34th semi-final at a major.<\/p>\n

The 17-time Grand Slam title winner also had the advantage of a 9-3 career lead over the French star, but Tsonga had been the man to beat Federer from two sets to love down in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2011.<\/p>\n

“It was a bad day, it’s a crushing disappointment,” said Federer.<\/p>\n

“But I will forget about it quickly, I usually do.<\/p>\n

“Give a lot of credit to Jo, he turns defence into attack very quickly and has got a big game.<\/p>\n

“He can take time away from you and has a lot of confidence. That’s a big part of his game.”<\/p>\n

Tsonga had reached the quarter-finals without dropping a set, while 31-year-old Federer had struggled in his fourth round win over Gilles Simon where he had to come back from two sets to one down.<\/p>\n

But it was 2009 champion Federer who struck first on Tuesday with a break for a 3-2 lead which the French player retrieved for 4-4.<\/p>\n

Tsonga took the opener when Federer shanked an ugly forehand.<\/p>\n

One break in the second set for 2-0 was enough for a two-sets lead.<\/p>\n

Federer had come back from two sets to love down last year in his quarter-final win over Juan Martin del Potro and in 2009 in the fourth round against Tommy Haas.<\/p>\n

But there was to be no miracle this time as a break in the seventh game of the third set put Tsonga on his way.<\/p>\n

It was all over after a one-sided, one hour and 51-minute affair with Federer undone by 34 unforced errors and a brilliant performance under pressure by his opponent.<\/p>\n

Ferrer reached the semi-finals for the second successive year with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over compatriot Tommy Robredo.<\/p>\n

Ferrer won in just one hour and 35 minutes to lift his series to seven wins for two losses against his 32nd-ranked rival as the 31-year-old continued a fine run of form which has seen him reach the last four without dropping a set.<\/p>\n

Robredo, also 31, had by contrast spent five hours more on court — including three consecutive five-setters — as he missed out on a first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final.<\/p>\n

Robredo, playing in his fifth Roland Garros quarter-final, reached the last eight by becoming the first man since Henri Cochet at Wimbledon in 1927 to win three successive rounds from two sets to love down.<\/p>\n

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