US Open 2017: ‘I needed some luck’, says Roger Federer after QF defeat

Roger Federer blamed troubled preparations for his US Open quarter-final exit on Wednesday, saying he had spent most of the time leading up to the year’s final grand slam worrying about his back instead of focusing on training.

The 36-year-old Swiss, who was chasing a 20th major title and was hoping to play world number one Rafa Nadal for the first time in Flushing Meadows in the last four, lost 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) 6-4 in a thrilling encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Federer, who skipped the US Open warm-up tournaments because of back pain, said he was fit to play but the damage had been done before the action started in New York.

“The best player won today, by far, and I don’t have a problem with that,” he told a news conference. “I don’t want to take anything from Juan Martin but when you get injured before a tournament, you are not focused on training or on how to play during the tournament. It was a bit the case for me before the US Open. Then I had to play a couple of five setters and you start to hurt a little bit everywhere.”

Federer believes that as a result, he was unable …read more