Federer Fails in QF, Tsonga Raises French Hopes, Ana Ivanovic in Semifinals

Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori lost their quarterfinal matches on Tuesday at the 2015 French Open. In blustery conditions at Suzanne Lenglen, the world no.2 was eliminated by his pal and Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka, who packed too much power in his shot-making and left Federer stranded on several occasions. This is the third straight year that Federer has made a quarterfinal exit at Roland Garros. In the other quarterfinals, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gladdened the French hearts by defeating Japanese Kei Nishikori in a five-set thriller. The Frenchman has made to his second semifinal at French Open and sixth at a major. For a place in the final, Tsonga will have to get past Wawrinka. Among women, 2008 champion and seeded seventh this year, Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic scored an easy straight sets win over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Lucie Safarova defeated Spain’s Garbine Muguruza on her way to the semifinals.

Roger Federer was not expected to lose this match since he had a fine 16-2 head-to-head record against Stan Wawrinka, But each new day is different from those passed by. On Suzanne Lenglen on Tuesday, the breeze was too powerful and cutting through wind speeds of 3o-40 kph was a great challenge. Regardless, Wawrinka found a way to punch his shots with raw power and broke Federer in the third game to take the first set. Wawrinka continued with a series of piercing winners and passing shots and broke Federer in the seventh game of the second set to lead 4-3. The power behind winners flying from Wawrinka’s racket caused gasps from the crowd as Federer desperately looked for a way to challenge his compatriot. Wawrinka broke Federer yet again to take the second set 6-3. Federer held on in the third set and forced a tiebreak But having come thus far, Wawrinka carried the momentum and scored a fine 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 victory to reach the semi-finals of the French Open for the first time.

In another men’s quarterfinal match, Frenchman Jo-wilfried Tsonga made a great start against Japanese Kei Nishikori. Bursting quickly out of the blocks in the first set, Tsonga lost just three points and quickly took the set 6-1. Nishikori was surprised by Tsonga working out so quickly and despite offering resistance in the second set, the Japanese lost it at 4-6. In the third set, Nishikori found his rhythm and snatched the initiative from Tsonga to win at 6-4. The Japanese continued with his new-found energy to also wrap up the fourth set 6-3. Now everything hinged on the decider. Tsonga composed himself and brought the Philippe Chatrier alive by breaking Nishikori. The Frenchman kept his cool for the rest of the final set and when Nishikori sent a backhand long, an elated Tsonga dropped to his knees onto the clay amid a roaring Parisian applause. In the semifinal, Tsonga has to contend with Stan Wawrinka on Friday.

In the women’s draw, 7th-seed Ana Ivanovic did not have much trouble in disposing of Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-3, 6-2. The 2008 champion thus advanced to the semifinals to play Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova, who accounted for Spain’s Garbine Muguruza 7-6, 6-3.