LONDON, June 29 -- Swiss legend Roger Federer was ousted from the Wimbledon Championships after losing to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 4-6, 4-6 on Wednesday.
The six-time Wimbledon champion Federer suddenly lost his sharpness since the third set, failing to reach the semifinals at the grass-court Grand Slam for the second year in a row.
"I thought I played a good match myself," said the 29-year-old Federer who is one title away from Pete Sampras' winning record at Wimbledon. "I'm actually pretty pleased with my performance today. It's kind of hard going out of the tournament that way, but unfortunately it does happen sometimes."
Federer was beaten by Tsonga once in their previous five meetings, but had never lost from two sets ahead at a Grand Slam.
"I think this one for some reason is gonna be easier to digest than the last year's defeat. Even though this one was in five sets and I was up two sets to love, I don't really feel like I lost from two sets to love up," said Federer as he was beaten by Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic last year in the same stage.
With 16 Grand Slam title in hand, Federer still believes that he can lift a Grand Slam trophy. "I think I definitely can. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't the case."
The 12th seed Tsonga will face the world No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who outplayed the Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
The world No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal will lock horns with the fourth seed Andy Murray in the other semifinal as the Spaniard saw off American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 and the British top player overcame Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.