Federer: Missed Opportunity

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NEW YORK—Roger Federer conceded deep disappointment and major missed opportunity after falling to Grigor Dimitrov in a five-set US Open quarterfinal loss.

Federer, who left the court to take treatment for an upper back and neck injury after the fourth set, said the defeat is disappointing because he had been pleased with his form.

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"Just low. Just disappointed it's over because I did feel like I was actually playing really well after a couple of rocky starts," Federer told the media afterward. "It's just a missed opportunity to some extent that you're in the lead, you can get through, you have two days off after. It was looking good.

"But got to take the losses. They're part of the game. Looking forward to family time and all that stuff, so... Life's all right."

The five-time US Open champion declined to detail the extent of the injury saying "this is Grigor's moment and not my body's moment." Federer called it an "upper back, neck" issue and said he first felt the pain "a little bit this afternoon."

The loss means we won't see a first-ever Roger vs. Rafa Nadal US Open match.

The pair were on course for a first Flushing Meadows meeting in the final.

Now Nadal, the only Grand Slam champion still standing in the field, is an overwhelming favorite to capture his 19th career Grand Slam crown and move to within one of equaling 20-time major champion Federer's all-time mark.

Winless in seven prior meetings vs. the third-seeded Swiss, former world No. 3 Dimitrov denied 10 of 14 break points and delivered some superb running strikes stunning Federer.

"I thought he was tough off the baseline," said Federer, who practiced with Dimitrov in Cincinnati last month. "He mixed up well, which gave me all sorts of problems with the rhythm. Could never really feel comfortable off the baseline. That's something in the past I've always been able to dominate, I'd say. That was not the case tonight. He did a good job there."

The 38-year-old Swiss carried a 43-1 US Open record vs. opponents ranked outside the Top 50 into this clash, but the 78th-ranked Dimitrov charged out to a 4-0 lead in the final set and never looked back.

Federer shot down the suggestion there was lingering emotional hangover from his gut-wrenching Wimbledon final loss when he failed to convert two championship points bowing to Novak Djokovic in an epic.

"I mean, I didn't think of it," Federer said. "If you move on, it's a thing of the past. I do remember playing good semis there, so it wasn't bad. If I think of that, I'm, like, really happy actually how I was able to play the last whatever, 15, 20 sets of the tournament.

"I know people read into it. They think, all that stuff. That is definitely not the reason why I lost tonight. I was ready to go, try my best. It wasn't enough. It's purely here tonight."

Photo credit: US Open Facebook

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