LONDON, July 12 ― Roger Federer's hopes of a ninth Wimbledon w88 malaysia title bit the dust as South African Kevin Anderson recovered from two sets down to win a quarter-final cliffhanger 2-6 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4 13-11 on a tension-filled Court One yesterday.
But after squandering a match point in the 10th game of the third set Federer's game frayed at the edges and an inspired Anderson powered back to claim victory in four hours 14 minutes. It was the biggest shock in a tournament already brimming with surprises, especially as Joahannesburg-born Anderson had not even won a set in their four previous meetings.
While top seed Federer was only at his scintillating best in the first girls pics set nothing could be taken away from Anderson, who will become the first male player representing South Africa to contest a Wimbledon semi-final since Kevin Curren in 1983. The 32-year-old, who reached last year's US Open final, will face big-serving American John Isner in the semis. “Down 2-0 I tried my best to keep fighting and was able to scrape through and by the end I thought I did a great job. I was in the flow of the match,” eighth seed Anderson said.
“Beating Roger Federer at Wimbledon will be one I remember. As the match went on, I gave it my all. I'm very ecstatic.” It is the second time that 20-times Grand Slam champion Federer has lost at Wimbledon from two sets ahead, suffering the same fate against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2011 quarter-finals. “It just wasn't one of my best days,” Federer, who won the first set in 26 minutes, told reporters.
The Swiss refused to blame his surprise defeat on the decision to beautiful girl play the match on Court One rather than his customary Centre Court stage at the All England Club. “I don't think it really mattered, to be honest. I had my chances and blew them, so... That's my problem really, the 36-year-old said. “I had my chances and I blew it.” Federer had breezed into the quarter-finals without dropping a set for the eighth time and was imperious in the opening set in which he hit 10 winners and only three unforced errors.