Defending champ Federer squanders two-set lead to go down 6-2, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 11-13 to SA's Kevin Anderson
Roger Federer during his quarter-final against South Africa's Kevin Anderson in London yesterday. Pics/Getty Images
Roger Federer crashed out of Wimbledon after a marathon five-set shoot-out with big-serving Kevin Anderson in the quarter-finals here yesterday. The eight-time champion was two sets up and had a match point in the third, but almost three hours later he trudged off on the end of a seismic 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 4-6, 11-13 upset. Federer found himself scheduled on Court One having been ousted from his usual Centre Court domain for the first time in three years.
But he found himself in even more unfamiliar territory with an inspired Anderson's relentless, thudding serve eventually overpowering the 20-time Grand Slam winner. The setting was not the only thing alien to the defending champion. When Anderson broke in the second set it was the first time the Swiss had dropped serve at this Wimbledon.
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Kevin Anderson celebrates his win over Roger Federer yesterday
The final set lasted 90 minutes, and it was captivating stuff. Federer eked out a break point at 4-3, Anderson quickly snuffed it out, then Anderson served to stay in the match, and did so to love. On they went, both holding to love for 10-10, but at 11-11 it was Federer who blinked first, a double fault handing Anderson a rare break point which he converted. Anderson needed four more booming serves to reach a first Wimbledon semi-final, and he found them. "I'm not quite sure what to say, I had to try my best to keep fighting," Anderson said.
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Federer's loss yesterday was only his second at SW19 after going up two sets. His first was v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2011
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