Tsonga stuns Federer to reach French Open semi-finals

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga sent Roger Federer crashing out of the French Open quarter-finals 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 semi-final in Paris and first by a home player since Gael Monfils in 2008.

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

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

Federer was bidding to win a record 58th career matches at Roland Garros and reach his 34th Grand Slam semi-final.

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 quarter-finals in 2011.