Update | Federer blames lack of confidence after shock US Open defeat against Spain's Robredo
Swiss legend is defeated in straight sets as poor run of form continues and he misses the chance to face rival Nadal in first US Open match-up
The long awaited, first-ever US Open match-up between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will have to wait at least another year after Federer was bundled out in a shock fourth-round loss.
Surrounded by a half-dozen tournament security guards, Federer made the long, slow trek across the US Open grounds from the court in Louis Armstrong Stadium to the locker room in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The hour was a little past 8pm local time, one week to the day before the men's final is scheduled to be played in Flushing Meadows, and Federer was once again heading home far earlier than he is used to doing at grand slam time.
The words he spoke after his surprisingly straightforward 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-4 loss to 19th-seeded Tommy Robredo made it sound as though he is having doubts about his game. "Confidence ... takes care of all the things you don't usually think about," Federer said. "But it's been a difficult last three months. My consistency is just not quite there."
This caps a poor grand slam season for Federer, whose record collection of 17 major trophies includes five in a row at the US Open from 2004-08.
This is the first season since 2002 that Federer did not reach at least one final at any of the four grand slam tournaments.