Roger Federer is already writing off his French Open disappointment after being knocked out of the event he won last year by Swede Robin Soderling.
With his world number one ranking in danger should Rafael Nadal win the title this weekend, Federer is pushing on with the grass-court season suddenly forced into the forefront after his quarterfinal loss. “Honestly, I don’t look too deep into why I lost today,” he said after beating the Swede in their first dozen matches. “For me, it’s very clear very quickly.
“That’s why I think I can move away from this rather fast and concentrate on the grass season coming up. I guess I’m most disappointed I am that I can’t defend my title here.
“I really felt like my tennis was good enough to come here and do it again, but that was not the case.” Federer hinted that his immense pride may have been dented after winning the first set, going off for a rain break and then coming back out only to have Soderling take control.
“It’s more the disappointment in maybe not having delivered my very best performance today, conditions and opponents didn’t allow me to.
“But you move on. You move on to the grass and forget a little bit,” he said.