It might have been weird before the U.S. Open started to see the number seven next to Roger Federer's name, but it's starting to make sense why there were six players ranked higher than the 17-time Grand Slam champion.
Federer lost to Tommy Robredo on Monday night at the U.S. Open in straight sets, meaning for the first time since 2002 Federer will not make a final at any of the four Grand Slams.
It was a closer match that it may have seemed by the score, but Roberdo, who had lost all 10 ATP matches against Federer in his career, was able to hold serve in the final game after Federer took an early lead in hopes of a break and two big serves moved him to the quarterfinals where he will most likely face Rafael Nadal if he can hold off Philipp Kohlschreiber in his fourth round match.
The question now is obviously what is the future of Roger Federer. Now 32-years-old, Federer has gone five straight Grand Slams without making a final and despite that epic run at last year's Wimbledon has made just one finals since the 2011 French Open.
His game has seemed to fade throughout the year, losing in the quarterfinals at the French, the second round at his favorite surface at Wimbledon and now a fourth round exit at the U.S. Open.
Questions will be tossed his way about if it's getting close to that time where a guy has to walk away from the game he dominated for so long, and while it might be hard to think that retirement is the next step for Federer, the thought will definitely be in his head after this loss to an opponent he dominated so many times in the past.
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