tsonga celebrates his victory. “Today was my moment against a champion who has won everything,” he said.

Tsonga stuns Federer to reach French semifinals

PARIS: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent Roger Federer crashing out of the French Open quarterfinals Tuesday to take a step closer to ending France’s 30-year wait for a men’s champion at Roland Garros.

Sixth-seed Tsonga swept to a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 triumph to reach his first semifinal in Paris and first by a home player since Gael Monfils in 2008.

The 28-year-old will tackle Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer for a place in Sunday’s final.

Victory also helped wipe out the misery of his quarterfinal in Paris last year where he had four match points over Novak Djokovic and lost in five sets.

“It’s extraordinary to be here and to have won,” said Tsonga, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of Yannick Noah, France’s last men’s champion in Paris in 1983.

“I never dreamt of this moment. Today was my moment against a champion who has won everything.

“I didn’t think I would get this far without losing a set. But Ferrer has not lost a set as well, he’s in great form.”

Federer, in his 36th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, was bidding to win a record 58th career match at Roland Garros and reach his 34th semifinal at a major.

The 17-time Grand Slam title winner also had the advantage of a 9-3 career lead over the French star, but Tsonga had been the man to beat Federer from two sets to love down in the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011.

“It was a bad day, it’s a crushing disappointment,” said Federer. “But I will forget about it quickly, I usually do.

“Give a lot of credit to Jo, he turns defense into attack very quickly and has got a big game.

“He can take time away from you and has a lot of confidence. That’s a big part of his game.”

Tsonga had reached the quarterfinals without dropping a set, while 31-year-old Federer had struggled in his fourth-round win over Gilles Simon where he had to come back from two sets to one down.

But it was 2009 champion Federer who struck first Tuesday with a break for a 3-2 lead which the French player retrieved for 4-4.

Tsonga took the opener when Federer shanked an ugly forehand.

One break in the second set for 2-0 was enough for a two-set lead.

Federer had come back from two sets to love down last year in his quarterfinal win over Juan Martin del Potro and in 2009 in the fourth round against Tommy Haas.

But there was to be no miracle this time as a break in the seventh game of the third set put Tsonga on his way.

It was all over after a one-sided affair of one hour and 51 minutes with Federer was undone by 34 unforced errors and a brilliant performance under pressure by his opponent.

Ferrer reached the semifinals for the second year with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over compatriot Tommy Robredo.

Ferrer won in just one hour and 35 minutes to lift his series to seven wins for two losses against his 32nd-ranked rival as the 31-year-old continued a fine run of form which has seen him reach the last four without dropping a set.

Robredo, also 31, had by contrast spent five hours more on court – including three consecutive five-setters – as he missed out on a first appearance in a Grand Slam semifinal.

Robredo, playing in his fifth Roland Garros quarterfinal, reached the last eight by becoming the first man since Henri Cochet at Wimbledon in 1927 to win three successive rounds from two sets to love.

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