The Swiss master, Federer, was well in control of the match and would have backed himself after winning the first two sets and serving for the match.

Federer raced through the first set to win it 6-2, and there claimed the second set in a tiebreaker.

Anderson managed to break the serve of the eight-time champion, to save the match and then win the third set.

Anderson broke the serve of Federer again in the fourth to claim it 6-4 and set up what was to become a marathon fifth and final set.

Neither Anderson nor Federer were willing to give an inch in the decider and it took 23 games before a player dropped his serve, and that was to be the much more fancied Swiss.

After four hours and 13 minutes of intense and thrilling tennis on court number one, Anderson held his nerve to serve for the match, and secure his place in the semi-finals of the world’s richest Grand Slam with a 2-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4 and 13-11 win.

Anderson becomes the first South African to reach the semi-finals at SW19 since Kevin Curren in 1985. Curren went on to lose the final 3-6, 7-6, 6-7 and 4-6 to Germany’s Boris Becker.

Anderson will face the winner between the USA’s John Ishner and Canada’s Milos Raonic in the semi-finals.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport