The 2011 Queen's Club - Quarterfinals

Huge upset yesterday in the quarters as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated the No. 1 player in the world Rafael Nadal 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-1.

In this match Tsonga shot 25 aces and kept Nadal on his heels with his strong baseline play and smooth net play. 

Only two points were played before the match was interrupted by rain.  Nadal decided to stay out and sign autographs despite the rain and the court being covered.

When play resumed Nadal took the first set and in the sixth game fought off a break point.  Rafa did fail to convert three break points when it was 5-5, but he ended up claiming the last five points of the tiebreak. 

In the second set both players exchanged breaks and then Tsonga broke again to lead 5-4.  He then served out the set. 

Rafa missed a very important forehand volley at the net on game point.  Tsonga ended up breaking Nadal early 1-0.   This got Tsonga going and he dominated the rest of the match.

Nadal will now go back to Mallorca and prepare for Wimbledon.  

"Probably after losing the second set mentally I lost my concentration,” Nadal said. “The negative thing is I lost. The positive thing is I have few days off and can stop a little bit mentally. I can be a little bit more relaxed, because every day I play with pressure.”

 Andy Roddick absolutely destroyed Fernando Verdasco winning 6-2, 6-2. 

Early in the match Andy took a  lead 2-1 after breaking Verdasco and in the fifth game he did it again taking a 4-1 lead. 

In the second set Roddick still dominated, breaking again to go up 2-1 and holding at 3-1 before the rains interrupted play.

Once play resumed after an hour and 45 minute delay, Roddick quickly took control again by breaking Fernando.

Andy failed to convert two match points on Verdasco's serve, but won the match in the next game on a second-serve ace for his fourth match point.

“My first rain delay of the year is out of the way,” Roddick said.

The surprise of the tournament, James Ward is also into the semis after his defeat of Adrian Mannarino of France 6-2, 6-7 (14), 6-4.

Ward, ranked 217th won his eighth match  point after Adrian Mannarino previously saved seven of them in the second set.  He will face Tsonga in his first ever ATP semifinal on Saturday.

“Obviously I’m delighted to get through,” Ward said. “I never felt like giving up—even after the second set—I hung in there and waited for the chances to come. A bit of luck at the end and I came through.”

Andy Murray received a walkover into the semifinals after Miran Cilic withdrew due to an ankle injury.  Murray will face Roddick in the semis.