Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have left little to the imagination, doing practically everything possible on a tennis court.
But an epic U.S. Open clash between two of the greatest players of all-time may be a dream New York never sees.
The pieces were once again in place for Federer and Nadal to finally meet in Flushing for the first time, but 19th-seeded Tommy Robredo denied the much-anticipated quarterfinal meeting of the rivals after pulling a stunning straight-set, fourth-round upset of Federer — the five-time champion — last night at Louis Armstrong Stadium, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-4.
The second-seeded Nadal, who started his match at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Federer was fading, defeated 22nd-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.
After suffering his earliest loss at the Open since 2003 with an erratic and inconsistent effort, Federer said he hadn’t let himself envision the match everyone had been waiting for.
“If I’m playing like this, I’m not going to beat Rafa, or Kohlschreiber, for that matter. So for me, I didn’t think of that,” said Federer, who has fallen before the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam for the second straight time, following a 36-slam streak of advancing that far. “I’ve been too often in this situation. I was fighting with other things in my match today. Not thinking too far ahead of myself, especially the level I was playing at.
“The story of my life: When I lose, people are shell-shocked to see me play this way.”
It has been nearly as shocking that Federer and Nadal have never met in New York.
They have played each other 31 times and combined for 29 Grand Slam titles, but have never played in the 10 Opens in which both participated, despite being the top two seeds from 2005-08.
In 2009 and 2010, Federer had two match points in the semifinals each year against Novak Djokovic, but somehow failed to advance to face Nadal in the finals.
“For two times we were one point away, for this time we were one match away, but it’s always the same, no?” Nadal said. “I felt that our rivalry, for so many years, we were able to play in all the best scenarios, stadiums, around the world … So, probably that deserves to have that match here in the U.S. Open, too, the biggest court in the world.
‘But [it] didn’t happen. That [doesn’t] mean [it] cannot happen in the future. We’ll see, hopefully. But it’s true that we are getting older, so the chances are less today than five years ago.”
Federer was playing his first match at Armstrong since 2006 after more than four hours of rain and entered with a 10-0 career record against Robredo — having taken 24 of the 27 sets played — while the 31-year-old Spaniard sported an 0-7 record in the fourth round of the Open.
Despite the awkward-looking No. 7 seed next to his name, Federer had not dropped a set in the tournament before Robredo won the final five points of the first-set tiebreaker, sparked by a second-serve ace.
Federer’s second set was marred by a string of unforced errors that sailed several feet wide; the kind once so uncharacteristic, that now have become increasingly familiar.
“I kind of self”‘-destructed, which is very disappointing,” Federer said. “It was a frustrating performance. I missed so many opportunities. Rhythm was off. When those things happen, clearly it’s always going to be difficult.”
With Federer trailing by two sets, the crowd tried to will him to a monumental comeback and the long-desired meeting with Nadal, but the 17-time Grand Slam champion wilted when presented with opportunity, converting on only 2-of-16 break points.
Leading 2-1 in the third set, Federer failed on five break-point opportunities in the game and never came close to matching Robredo’s energy or consistency.
Though the Spaniard said he still saw a great player across the net, it was not the man who manhandled him for so many years.
“Obviously Roger, when he was No. 1, to the Roger right now, he’s not maybe with the same confidence, no?” Robredo said.