A very sad looking Roger Federer addressed the media following his stunning loss the Jurgen Melzer today and the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters 1000.
Federer, who had never lost to the Austrian lefty in three prior matches, fell 64, 64.
Federer said, “I don’t think I played terrible. I thought it was OK. It was still the first week of clay, so I don’t expect myself to play my very best and if I would, that would be a pleasant surprise. I think it’s been a solid tournament. I think he played well when he had to. Like I said, the chances I was able to miss today was just too much. I think I should have definitely gotten one of the sets, you know. I’m always down in the score, running behind. Every time I had this slight opening, things didn’t go my way Either he shanks them and they stay in play, he hits the line, i try to do something, I miss by a little bit. All those things accumulate to something quite frustrating. That’s what made it hard. Look, I thought he did well. He played aggressive, played the right way he was supposed to.”
Federer of course has never won in Monte Carlo and in the next go-round he’ll be 30. Has his time passed?
The loss is also the first by Federer to someone other than Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic this year, it’s also the earliest exit for Roger at the tournament in 2011. Still, despite his appearance the former No. 1 says he’s pleased with the week.
“Look, I don’t think I’ve lost against a left hander other than Nadal in, I don’t know, seven or eight years,” he said. “I’m happy to have done something like that. Then again, you know, it’s always disappointing regardless against who you lose. As long as you keep trying, test all the things out there, you feel like you gave it all the chances, that’s really what matters to me. Look, I wish I could have gone further in the tournament. You know, it was okay. I got three matches and I’m pretty happy.”
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