US Open Finals 2010 Live
NEW YORK -- A little more than an hour after wasting two match points and losing in the U.S. Open semifinals, Roger Federer headed for the exit.
Dressed in his on-court outfit -- powder-blue shirt, brown shorts, custom-made sneakers with the New York skyline sketched on the heels -- Federer walked out of Arthur Ashe Stadium, accompanied by his wife. Between licks of a lollipop, he paused to tell tournament workers, "See you next year."
So used to playing in the final at Flushing Meadows, the five-time champion left earlier than usual. With everyone expecting a Rafa vs. Roger title match at the U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic got in the way.
Djokovic prevented what would have been the eighth Grand Slam championship match between tennis' top two men -- and first such showdown at Flushing Meadows -- by coming back to stun Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in Saturday's semifinals.
"They all pretty much feel the same. They feel somewhat empty at the end, because you have tried everything -- and maybe it was luck. Maybe it was he played well. Maybe you didn't pick the right shot. Maybe he did," said Federer, who had won 45 of his previous 46 matches at the U.S. Open, reaching six consecutive finals.
"You feel like you left something out there if you lose a match having had match point," Federer added. "It wasn't a final, so I'm not as disappointed if it would have been a final."
Dressed in his on-court outfit -- powder-blue shirt, brown shorts, custom-made sneakers with the New York skyline sketched on the heels -- Federer walked out of Arthur Ashe Stadium, accompanied by his wife. Between licks of a lollipop, he paused to tell tournament workers, "See you next year."
So used to playing in the final at Flushing Meadows, the five-time champion left earlier than usual. With everyone expecting a Rafa vs. Roger title match at the U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic got in the way.
Djokovic prevented what would have been the eighth Grand Slam championship match between tennis' top two men -- and first such showdown at Flushing Meadows -- by coming back to stun Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in Saturday's semifinals.
"They all pretty much feel the same. They feel somewhat empty at the end, because you have tried everything -- and maybe it was luck. Maybe it was he played well. Maybe you didn't pick the right shot. Maybe he did," said Federer, who had won 45 of his previous 46 matches at the U.S. Open, reaching six consecutive finals.
"You feel like you left something out there if you lose a match having had match point," Federer added. "It wasn't a final, so I'm not as disappointed if it would have been a final."