NEW YORK (AP) ― Roger Federer lost in the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time in a decade, surprisingly beaten 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4 by 19th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain.
Monday night’s result caps a rough Grand Slam season for Federer, who owns a record 17 major championships, including five at Flushing Meadows.
He exited in the semifinals at the Australian Open in January, the quarterfinals at the French Open in early June, and the second round of Wimbledon ― against a player ranked 116th, to boot ― in late June. That ended Federer’s record run of reaching at least the quarterfinals at 36 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.
Now, thanks to Robredo, Federer has a new, unwanted streak: Two consecutive losses before the quarterfinals at majors.
And this is the first year since 2002 that Federer did not reach at least one final at any of the four Grand Slam tournaments.