...Federer goes down

London, July 11 

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 quarterfinal defeat against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson on Wednesday. Federer’s bid to win a ninth Wimbledon title came to an astonishing end as the Swiss star collapsed in a nail-biting four hour and 14 minute classic that ranks as one of the tournament’s greatest upsets.

It was Federer’s earliest departure from Wimbledon since his shock second round defeat against Sergiy Stakhovsky in 2013. “Down two sets to love, I tried my best to keep fighting. Beating Roger Federer here at Wimbledon will be one I remember, especially in such a close match,” Anderson said. “I kept telling myself to keep believing. I said today is going to be my day. You need that mindset against Roger. “I’m ecstatic. That’s what you work so hard for. Matches likes that are very special.” For the only the second time at Wimbledon, Federer was beaten after holding a two-set lead, with his previous loss from that position coming against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the 2011 quarterfinals.

Djokovic storms into semis

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic reached his eighth Wimbledon semifinal on Wednesday with a 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over Japan’s Kei Nishikori in a stormy Centre Court clash. It will be Djokovic’s 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 unnecessary,” said Djokovic, who was sanctioned in the second set for spearing his racquet into the court. “It didn’t harm the grass. Kei did the same in the fourth set but wasn’t warned. The umpire said he didn’t see. I don’t think it’s fair but it is what it is.” 

Despite his anger, Djokovic still reeled off 10 of the last 12 games of the quarterfinal.  “It feels great to be back in the last-four of a Slam. I’ve 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.” — Agencies