ROGER AND OUT

Anderson dumps eight-time champ Federer

ROGER FEDERER admitted “I blew it” after seeing his hopes of a ninth men’s title crushed by Kevin Anderson.

Eighth seed Anderson (circled left) produced the performance of his life to dethrone the King of Wimbledon and defending champion in a five-set epic, 2-6 6-7 7-5 6-4 13-11.

Top seed Federer conceded he only had himself to blame after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory having been two sets up and then having a match point in the third.

But he squandered it with a wild backhand and Anderson made the most of his reprieve with a brilliant, gutsy fightback to reach his first Wimbledon semi-final. The pair produced a four-hour 14-minute classic and the match of the men’s draw so far ended with the biggest shock on No.1 Court.

But playing his part in such a memorable occasion would have been no consolation to Federer, whose forehand repeatedly failed him and fittingly handed Anderson the chance to serve for the match at the end of a marathon fifth set.

Yet nobody would have predicted Federer’s collapse after he raced into a one-set lead in just 26 devastating minutes.

Federer, 36, who lost from two sets up for only the fifth time, said: “It was just a bad day from my side, except the first set.

“After that, I never really felt exactly 100 per cent.

“I had my chances and blew them. As the match went on, I couldn’t surprise him any more. I feel horribly fatigued and just awful. It’s just terrible.”

Federer added: “Maybe the losses hurt more. It motivates me to do extremely well here again.”

Anderson halted Federer’s run of consecutive sets at Wimbledon at 34, meaning he only equalled rather than beat his record set in 2006.

The big-serving South African said: “Beating Federer at Wimbledon will be one I’m going to remember, especially in such a close match. I kept telling myself this is going to be my day and I’m ecstatic to get through.”

Anderson will now face ninth seed John Isner who defeated Milos Raonic 6-7 7-6 6-4 6-3.