ONLY the successful defence of his last remaining grand slam title, the US Open, can salvage Roger Federer's year, as the Swiss was left to digest his shock Olympic quarter-final defeat by American James Blake. The Australian Open and Wimbledon titles are already lost, and the French was never his. The No. 1 ranking will be gone by Monday.
Maintaining that he had had an "OK" season, but blaming a shortage of practice time since February for his comparatively poor results, Federer admitted to his "big disappointment" at the 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) result against Blake.
On a rain-delayed night of upsets that also claimed both Williams sisters, Federer served poorly and made 56 unforced errors against a player he had led 8-0 in career matches. His decline is now undeniable.
"I'm not happy with this tournament. You know, I wish I could have done much more," Federer said yesterday.
"But I've still got to look forward. I look forward to the US Open. I still have really this and then the Masters Cup in Shanghai to really do well now - try to save my season. But this obviously is a big blow because I expected more.
"It was one of the goals of the season for me to do well here. So obviously the quarter-finals is not going to do it for me.
"I think James played well. I can only really say how well he played … I've played him on many occasions, but I think this was the best I've seen him.
"I'm happy for him. He's a good guy. I hope he can go all the way now."
Blake, too, was generous, denying that Federer was vulnerable going into the US Open, and was "one of the contenders, if not the favourite, to win the US Open". "I think his results, considered being bad this year, is a product of how high his level has been," Blake said. "Similar to Tiger Woods. When they don't win every single week, it's called 'a bad year'."
Nadal, who was to play third seed Novak Djokovic in a semi-final last night, admitted he was surprised by the exit of his 12-slam-winning rival. "But the tennis always is very close, no? The level is very close. The match is decide in a few points a lot of times," Nadal said. "Sometimes happens something
like this. Sorry for him. But, you know, that's the tennis. Everybody lose, no? Disappointing for everybody. I am playing my best career, my best season in my life. I play 15 tournaments, and I lost in eight. So more than 50% of the times I lost in a tournament."
While Serena Williams was eliminated in three sets to Elena Dementieva well past midnight and then lamented an "insane" schedule, double Sydney gold medallist Venus lost her quarter-final 7-5, 7-5 to China's Li Na.
No Australians survived to contest the final three days of Olympic competition, with Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione dumped 6-4, 6-3 by the top-seeded Bryan brothers, Bob and Mike, and the Sam Stosur-Rennae Stubbs pairing losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Spanish fourth seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual.
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