Tsonga stuns Nadal

The Spanish world number one, who claimed a record-equalling sixth French Open title on Sunday, looked on course for the semifinal when he took an opening set tiebreak but appeared to run out of steam as fifth seed Tsonga seized control.

A full-length diving volley helped Tsonga earn two break points at 4-4 in the second set and, when Nadal hit long, the match began to slide away in the evening sunshine.
Tsonga broke Wimbledon champion Nadal's serve at the start of the deciding set and for once there was nothing left as he slumped to defeat.

Tsonga will play British wildcard James Ward or fellow Frenchman Adrian Mannarino for a place in Sunday's final.

Andy Roddick mowed down Fernando Verdasco to set up a semifinal showdown against home favourite Andy Murray.

The all-action American, so often the nearly-man at Wimbledon, cranked up his serve, ripped his forehands and even got in some useful 'rain-delay' practise during a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of off-key Spaniard Verdasco.

Second seed Murray had it even easier, though, as his quarterfinal opponent Marin Cilic withdrew with an ankle injury shortly before they were due on court.

Heavy rain meant the organisers had to rip-up the schedule but there was time for Ward to floor another big name, following up his second-round win over Swiss fourth seed Stanislas Wawrinka to complete another impressive vicory over defending champion Sam Querrey in the pre-quarterfinals.

London cabbie's son Ward, the world number 216, has recently recruited an Argentine cage fighter in an attempt to boost his career and he showed plenty of killer instinct to beat the American 13th seed 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The match had been poised at one set all overnight and the 24-year-old Ward returned later in the day for a quarterfinal against Mannarino.

Third seed Roddick, bidding for a record fifth title at the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event that has a roll of honour featuring some of the greats of tennis, loves the all-too-brief grasscourt season.

After a first-round bye he then came through a high-quality battle with Feliciano Lopez, dispatched big-serving South African Kevin Anderson with ease and on Friday proved a class above Verdasco whose trusty forehand misfired repeatedly.

The American former world number one can now look forward to the more serious contest with Murray.