MELBOURNE, Australia – Swiss star Roger Federer kept his fans on the edge of their seats for five tight sets as he advanced to the Australian Open semifinals for the 10th year in a row.
In doing so, he ended French showman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s run. The seventh-seed was ousted 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion will now play US Open winner Andy Murray, who advanced in straight sets earlier on Wednesday over unseeded Jeremy Chardy of France.
The 31-year-old Federer hadn’t dropped a service game in his first four rounds, but Tsonga ended that streak by breaking him in the sixth game.
Federer was narrowly in front for most of the match but Tsonga stayed in touch with some powerful groundstrokes and a big serve.
After being forced into a deciding fifth set, Federer broke Tsonga in the fourth game and, after wasting four match points in the ninth, served it out in three hours, 34 minutes. – AP
