Wimbledon Flashback: Roger Federer squanders huge lead over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

• Tennis News
• Roger Federer

Roger Federer lost to Tomas Berdych in the 2010 Wimbledon quarter-final, failing to reach the last four for the first time since 2002. Roger could not fight for the Wimbledon trophy following another quarter-final defeat in 2011, falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga after wasting a massive advantage.

Jo-Wilfried came from two sets to love down in a 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 triumph and became the first player who overcame that deficit versus Federer at Majors! The Frenchman prevailed in three hours and eight minutes and moved into his first Wimbledon semi-final, taking a step further than in 2010.

It could have been the first year with the top four seeds in the semis since 1995. Still, Tsonga took care to change that, taking ten points less than Federer but facing only one break point in the entire match. The Frenchman served well after that and stole the Swiss' serve once in sets three, four and five for a place in the last four.

Interestingly, Roger grabbed that break in the encounter's second game and failed to repeat that for the next three hours and four minutes, which shows how good Tsonga served in the rest of the clash. A return winner gave Jo-Wilfried a break point in game five.

Roger denied it with a solid serve before playing against another break point after Jo-Wilfried's volley winner. The Swiss erased it with a well-constructed point and blasted two service winners to bring it home and forge a 4-1 advantage.

Serving for the set at 5-3, Federer landed three service winners to clinch it in just 27 minutes, hoping for more of the same in the rest of the encounter. Both players served well in set number two, offering no break chances before the tie break.

Roger claimed it 7-3 after a forehand down the line winner to increase the lead after just 74 minutes and move closer to the finish line. With no room for errors, the Frenchman scored a break in the third set's third game with a powerful forehand down the line that barely caught the court.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came from two sets down vs. Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2011.

Tsonga held at 15 in the next one to confirm the advantage and delivered another fine service game to move 4-1 in front. Serving for the set at 5-4, the Frenchman found himself 30-0 down.

He had to be careful at three deuces, keeping his focus on a high level and closing the set with a service winner to reduce the overall deficit and stay in contention. Jo-Wilfried fired a forehand winner in the fourth set's third game for another lead.

He cemented it with a hold at love in the next one and sealed the set with four service winners at 5-4 to set a decider after two and a half hours. The momentum was on his side of the court for over an hour now, barely losing a point on serve in set number four and landing 13 winners and two unforced errors to leave Roger behind.

Feeling the pressure, the Swiss suffered a break in the fifth set's first game when the Frenchman forced a forehand error in what proved to be the crucial moment of the entire clash. Firing one good serve and forehand after another, Tsonga sealed the deal with another great hold in game ten.

He fell to the ground in disbelief and celebrated one of the most significant victories of his entire career over the six-time Wimbledon champion from the brink of defeat.