WIMBLEDON, England — Pete Sampras, the greatest men’s player of the 1990s, has had to be a good sport as his records, which appeared poised to last for decades, have tumbled like dominoes to the all-surface pressure applied by Roger Federer.

But Sampras still has the historical edge on the grass at Wimbledon. Federer, a six-time champion at the All England Club, remains one title behind his American friend Sampras. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the acrobatic Frenchman, made certain it stayed that way by managing what no man had against Federer in a Grand Slam tournament.

Until Wednesday’s quarterfinals, Federer was 178-0 when he won the first two sets of a major singles match. But Tsonga — with his potent serve, percussive forehand and corner-to-corner athleticism — put an end to that streak, allowing Federer just one break point and rallying to win, 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, on Centre Court.

“I think my game was plenty good enough this year to win the tournament, but unfortunately there’s only one who can win it, and the rest go home empty-handed,” Federer said. “That’s what happened to me today, but Jo played an amazing match.”