Anderson outguns Federer
LONDON Roger Federer suffered a stunning Wimbledon exit as the defending champion blew a two-set lead and wasted a match point in a 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4, 13-11 quarter-final defeat against South Africas Kevin Anderson yesterday.
Federers bid to win a ninth Wimbledon title came to an astonishing end as the Swiss star collapsed in a nail-biting four hour and 13 minute classic that ranks as one of the tournaments greatest upsets.
It was Federers earliest departure from Wimbledon since his shock second round defeat against Sergiy Stakhovsky in 2013.
Eighth seed Anderson will play 2016 runner-up Milos Raonic or American ninth seed John Isner on Friday for a place in Sundays final.
Meanwhile, three-time champion Novak Djokovic reached his eighth Wimbledon semi-final yesterday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 62 win over Japans Kei Nishikori in a stormy Centre Court clash.
Djokovic, 31, will be playing in his 32nd Slam semi-final.
It will be Djokovics first semifinal at a major since the 2016 French Open when he completed the career Grand Slam.
The 12-time major winner prevailed despite picking up two code violations and accusing umpire Carlos Ramos of double standards.
I think the first warning was unneccessary, said Djokovic, who was sanctioned in the second set for spearing his racquet into the court.
It didnt harm the grass. Kei did the same in the fourth set but wasnt warned.
The umpire said he didnt see. I dont think its fair but it is what it is.
Despite his anger, Djokovic still reeled off 10 of the last 12 games of the quarter-final.
It feels great to be back in the last four of a Slam. Ive been building in the last couple of weeks and my level of tennis is going up, he said.
I am peaking at the right moment.
Nishikori, playing in his first quarter-final at the All England Club, was bidding to become the first Japanese man to make the Wimbledon semi-finals in 85 years. AFP