French Open: Roger Federer exits, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga keeps dream alive
Tuesday 2 June 2015 22:00, UK
Roger Federer crashed out of the quarter-finals in straight sets and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gave the locals plenty to shout about at Roland Garros on Tuesday.
Stan the man
"I played my best match in a Grand Slam tournament,” beamed Stan Wawrinka after he eliminated his Swiss counterpart Federer in straight sets.
That’s quite a statement considering he has a major title to his name in the form of the 2014 Australian Open.
Federer, classy as always, was graceful in defeat. "We [knew] he can do this,” he said.
"It's just nice for him now, even talking for him, to string it together on a big occasion like this at the French, where I always thought he'd have his best chance to do well."
Allez Les Blues!
"Roland, je t'aime," wrote Tsonga in the red clay, the big Frenchman expressing his love for the place after beating No 5 seed Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-1 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
This is the second time the local hero has made the last four at the French Open and his wild celebrations on court suggests that he’ll be soaking up every minute of his accomplishment.
Following his court artistry he got down on the floor, on his back, with arms and legs spread apart, and 15,000 or so in attendance showed their support for his epic five set victory.
He'll face Wawrinka on Friday for a spot in the final as he bids to become France’s first French Open winner since Yannick Noah in 1983.
Amazing Ana
Ana Ivanovic advanced to the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time since winning her only Grand Slam title at the French Open seven years ago with a 6-3 6-2 win over Elina Svitolina.
The seventh seed put on a real show for the crowd, which included her German World Cup-winning boyfriend Bastian Schweinsteiger, as she smashed 37 winners home to book a meeting with Lucie Safarova, who beat Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
Mind your head
Spectators at the French Open had a lucky escape after part of the roof of the Chatrier Court fell on to the crowd during the Tsonga and Nishikori match.
Tournament director Gilbert Ysern says one person was injured by the three-metre long (about nine feet) metal panel that fell off a giant television screen above Court Philippe Chatrier.
Ysern added that an investigation is being opened to determine exactly what happened to the panel, in place to protect the TV screen from pigeon droppings.
