Tsonga downs the Fed

Two men who have never before played in a Wimbledon final have a chance to do so this week. But only one of them will get there.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will face Novak Djokovic tomorrow in one of the men's singles semifinals after their stunning but very different victories yesterday.

Tsonga won a sensational comeback match against six-times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who had never before lost after being two sets up. Tsonga won 3-66-7 (3) 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Djokovic had an unexpectedly difficult battle against one of his practice partners, the 18-year-old find of the tournament, Bernard Tomic of Australia. Djokovic won 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5.

The Frenchman bludgeoned Federer to defeat, creating more doubts over the 29-year-old Swiss's ability to add to his 16 Grand Slams - the last of which came at the 2010 Australian Open - and cast a shadow over his bid to match Pete Sampras's record of seven Wimbledon titles.

For Tsonga, 26, it will be his first Wimbledon semifinal, where he will tackle world No2 Djokovic for a place in Sunday's final.

"It was amazing. I played unbelievable. It's never easy to come back against Roger. I'm so happy, it's crazy," said Tsonga, whose best performance was runners-up spot at the 2008 Australian Open.

"Against Djokovic I will have to come out and do the same again."

Incredibly, there were no signs of the drama to come as Federer, who went into the match with a 4-1 winning record over the 12th seed, was in majestic form early on.

He cruised through the first set on centre court courtesy of a break in the second game, which turned out to be his only break of the dramatic afternoon.

Tsonga, playing in his second successive Wimbledon quarterfinal, was more solid in the second, but buckled in the tiebreak.

But the Frenchman, whose career has been blighted by a series of injuries, broke for the first time to lead 2-1 in the third set with a searing forehand down the line. He then held his nerve in the 10th game where he needed a fourth set point to cut the deficit.

Tsonga was now in the ascendancy and broke to lead 2-1 in the fourth set as Federer, who had lost just two service games in his previous four rounds, was being out-hit by his muscular opponent. A 14th ace from Tsonga gave him the set 6-4 and the quarterfinal was all-square.

Federer was almost on his knees, broken again to trail 1-0 at the start of the decider before Tsonga surged away to capture a famous win in the 10th game when the former world number one wearily mis-hit a service return.

Djokovic overcame his protegé, holding on to reach the semifinals for the third time in his career with a 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory over Tomic.

Djokovic has been practising with Tomic on-and-off since the two became friends last year in Australia, but this was the first meeting between the two in any tournament.