Roger Federer brings down curtain on his career with a defeat, but still dazzles alongside longtime friend and rival Rafael Nadal at the end of the third-round.
Roger Federer ended his career with his fourth grand slam quarterfinal exit at the French Open on Friday, falling to Juan Martín del Potro.
Federer started his season with a two-set loss to Stan Wawrinka in the first round, while he trailed by a set and a break to Lukas Rosol in the second. But Federer fought back to win the last two points to clinch a place in his fourth French Open quarterfinal at Roland Garros.
“It didn’t feel good, it was a tough game,” Federer said of his defeat. “I wasn’t really in good conditions for the match and I just didn’t come out of it. I just couldn’t get myself in the right position. Sometimes the big guys will play a lot of points on your serve, and that is the situation we found ourselves in. It was a struggle, a very, very tough match.”
The 31-year-old was bidding to become the first man in 43 years to defend his French Open crown. He lost in the second round in 2010, his third major final defeat.
“It is a big loss but not a final,” Federer said. “This is only my second Grand Slam tournament and I haven’t had a final this year, so it is a big difference. It was a very long match.”
Federer is the oldest man in the Open, and it was the second major he’s lost to a younger opponent. He last faced Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2006.
The fourth-seeded del Potro came over from his hometown of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, in search of his second major final of the year. He came into Roland Garros looking for an edge in his first-round battle with Rafael Nadal