Jo-Wilfried Tsonga registered one of the biggest wins of his career when he came back from dead to defeat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in five sets 3-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Tsonga was widely expected to provide a tough match to Federer to prepare him for the seventh Wimbledon title. He had been playing well this summer having defeated Rafael Nadal in the Aegon championships and having taken a set off Andy Murray in the finals there. But then Federer too had been in the best form from the French Open. Federer was quick to go off the blocks breaking Tsonga in the very first service game and raced to first set victory in 27 minutes riding on cent percent conversion of break points. He committed no unforced error while hitting 12 winners. Tsonga was left licking wounds having failed to convert any of the two points he earned in the fifth game.
Tsonga improved in the second set. The spectacle of the usual Federer games when he induces a short return from the opponent in the middle of the court and belts the ball to the other corner was missing. Tsonga was developing confidence in his shots. He neither conceded any break point nor could earn any of them. The set went to the tie breaker. It is a cardinal mistake to enter tie breaker against Federer. Federer serving at 82% in the second set meant trouble. He went up 5-0 in the tie break before Tsonga could pull back 3. More importantly for Tsonga, his graph was going up whereas Federer’s dominance was going down. It was just that Federer had played the important points better. Two sets up, it was looking a straight sets victory for Federer since he plays his best when ahead.
The third set started in a familiar fashion. Federer took his first service game at love, but the turning point came in the third game. Tsonga got two break points and converted the second to break Federer for the first time. The crucial test came in the tenth game when Tsonga would have to serve out the set. He earned 3 set points only to see them vanish in thin air. But on the fourth occasion, he mustered up all his concentration to put a strong first serve in which Federer could barely touch. This win changed the complexion of the game. Two things happened simultaneously. Tsonga’s game went up and Federer’s game went down. But when does it happen that Federer can be expected to lose from two sets to love up in a Grand Slam match.
In the third game of the third set, Tsonga earned three consecutive break points on Federer’s serve. He was able to convert the third and went up 2-1. He did not let Federer get any break point on his serve. The game reached 5-4 with Tsonga to serve the set out. Four good serves including two aces sealed the fourth set in Tsonga’s favour. The spectators were held with disbelief in their eyes on the turn of events.
If Federer had to win, it was here and now in the final set. Federer started the set but surprisingly went down 15-40. Tsonga did not let the opportunity go and converted the very first break point. It was now dawning on the spectators that Federer was vulnerable at age of 29. Tsonga did not let Federer come anywhere near a break point. When he arrived at the penultimate service game, Tsonga served well to earn triple match points. He converted the very first.
Tsonga has ousted the best contender for the title. Infact, he has himself become a serious contender for a spot in the finals.
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