Maybe Roger Federer had too much time off between matches. This much is certain: He won?t be playing again at this year?s US Open after losing to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.
Five-time champion Federer departed Flushing Meadows before the semifinals for the first time since 2003, stunned by the sixth-seeded Berdych, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, Wednesday night.
??I just didn?t come up with the goods tonight,?? Federer said. ??It was unfortunate.??
His famous forehand was way off for much of the evening: 24 of his 40 unforced errors came off that wing. The 6-foot-5-inch Berdych, meanwhile, kept pounding serves and groundstrokes right where he wanted them, finishing with 14 aces, 30 winners, and only 21 unforced errors.
??There is no better moment than this one so far,?? said Berdych, who will face Olympic champion Andy Murray in the semifinals on Saturday.
It was Berdych?s fourth victory in his last seven meetings against 17-time Grand Slam winner Federer, including in the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinals en route to a runner-up finish to Rafael Nadal at the All England Club.
Federer hadn?t competed since Saturday, and looked rusty, particularly for the first two sets. The man he was supposed to play in the fourth round Monday, Mardy Fish, withdrew because of a health scare.
Andy Roddick headed into retirement with a 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-4 loss to Juan Martin del Potro in the fourth round.
It was an emotional farewell for Roddick. He choked up during an on-court speech at Arthur Ashe Stadium, telling the crowd, ??Oh, wow. For the first time in my career, I?m not sure what to say.??
??Since I was a kid, I?ve been coming to this tournament. I felt lucky just to sit where all of you are sitting today, to watch this game, to see the champions that have come and gone,?? Roddick told the fans. ??I?ve loved every minute of it.??
The American surprisingly announced last Thursday, his 30th birthday, that the US Open would be his final tournament. That news conference came a day before Roddick?s second-round match, and he wound up winning that one, and a third-rounder, too, riding a wave of support in the stands.
But those opponents were ranked 43d and 59th, and the seventh-seeded del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, provided a far more daunting challenge.
Up, 1-0, in the fourth, Roddick got a chance to make one last stand and postpone retirement for at least a set when del Potro double faulted to hand over a break point. But Roddick sailed a backhand long, then dropped his racket at his feet and leaned forward with hands on head, the very picture of exasperation.
??It?s been a road of a lot of ups, a lot of downs, a lot of great moments. I?ve appreciated your support along the way,?? Roddick said. ??I know I certainly haven?t made it easy for you at times but I really do appreciate it and love you guys with all my heart. Hopefully I?ll come back to this place someday and see all of you again.??
Del Potro joined the fans in standing to applaud. He moved on to a quarterfinal against defending champion Novak Djokovic, who advanced when his opponent, No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka, stopped because of illness and fatigue while trailing, 6-4, 6-1, 3-1.
Djokovic?s Serbian Davis Cup teammate, No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic, finished his rain-interrupted 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 victory over No. 19 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, and gets No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain in the quarterfinals.
Olympic champion Andy Murray became the first man to reach the semifinals, coming all the way back after being one point from facing a two-set deficit to beat No. 12 Marin Cilic, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-0.
Four-time major champion Maria Sharapova won her quarterfinal Wednesday, coming from behind after a rain delay for the second consecutive match and defeating 2007 Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Serena Williams faced no such trouble in her quarterfinal Wednesday night.
Williams, who has won three of her 14 Grand Slam titles at the US Open, hit 12 aces while defeating 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, 6-1, 6-3.
Williams?s semifinal opponent will be 10th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy, who eliminated her good friend and doubles partner, No. 20 Roberta Vinci, in straight sets.
