'Painful to watch': Roger Federer crashes out of US Open in 'horrible' scenes
Grigor Dimitrov has shocked the tennis world with an extraordinary upset over Roger Federer at the US Open.
A clearly-injured Federer gave away a lead and was beaten 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-2 by the 78th-ranked Bulgarian before a stunned crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday.
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Dimitrov, who had been ranked as high as No.3 but dropped to 78 in the world after a string of injuries, found form on the New York hardcourts to claim the biggest win of his career.
The 38-year-old Federer took a rare medical timeout after the fourth set, leaving the court with a trainer.
It was not immediately clear what might have been wrong with Federer, although he did appear to be flexing his back after some points.
When play resumed after a break of nearly 10 minutes, Federer's form never picked up.
He finished with 61 unforced errors, 33 on the forehand side.
Federer had been 7-0 against Dimitrov, taking 16 of their previous 18 sets.
He would have been the oldest grand slam semi-finalist since Jimmy Connors was 39 at Flushing Meadows in 1991.
He also was trying to add to his totals of five US Open championships and 20 major trophies in all.
Instead, Dimitrov advanced to his third major semi-final and first in New York.
It’s a remarkable triumph for Dimitrov - the man once dubbed ‘Baby Federer’.
The Bulgarian lost to the 405th-ranked player last month and came into the US Open with one win in his last eight matches.
He becomes the lowest-ranked grand slam semi-finalist since No. 94 Rainer Schüttler at Wimbledon in 2008.
Tennis pundits and fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing, describing Federer’s injury woes as “horrible” and “painful to watch.”
78th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov puts the "baby" to rest, beating Roger Federer 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semifinals, where he'll face #5 Daniil Medvedev.
Earlier this summer, in Atlanta, Dimitrov lost to a guy outside the top 400. What an unbelievable #USOpen he's having.— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 4, 2019
Federer can’t really play at the moment. Never retired from a match in his career, won’t be today.
Dimitrov 4-0— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 4, 2019
Federer's serve speed back up to normal again. No idea what's going on.
— Matthew Willis (@MattRacquet) September 4, 2019
I hope Federer’s struggles don’t take away from what Grigor Dimitrov is about to accomplish.
Yes he got a favorable draw, but this one of the most incredible single-tournament resurgences in recent tennis history.— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) September 4, 2019
Nothing against @GrigorDimitrov , but watching this dwindling 5th set and the endless unforced errors from an apparently injured @rogerfederer is tough. @usopen
— Barbara-Lee Edwards (@BarbaraLeeNews8) September 4, 2019
This is painful to watch @rogerfederer hurt at #USOpen. Getting destroyed in the fifth set. Nothing left in the tank. Crowd is stunned.
— Michael Adler (@madler9000) September 4, 2019
Wow something must be wrong with #Federer Since that medical timeout he has not been the same, hopefully he is going to be ok, with that said what a Huge chance for #Dimitrov #USOpen
— Tom Minor (@TomHMinor) September 4, 2019
What is happening to Federer? The way he is playing is totally off to what you hope to see from the royal majesty of tennis #USOpen #Federer
— Danii ♔ (@Danii_Chs) September 4, 2019
I’m completely stunned right now at what has happened to Federer in the 2nd half of this match against Dimitrov, an opponent who he has absolutely dominated over his career. This is quite horrible. Down 2 breaks in the 5th now.
— Peter Eric (@4thGenBruin) September 4, 2019
👀 What. Just. Happened. 👀 #FEDERER out.
Great play from #Dimitrov to make the SF of the #USOpen 🎾
Awesome night session on #Ashe https://t.co/CRjACatWri— Martin Findlay (@martingfindlay) September 4, 2019
Medvedev awaits Dimitrov
Daniil Medvedev may not win any popularity contests at Flushing Meadows but he remained on course for a US Open title by taming Stan Wawrinka to reach his first grand slam semi-final.
The fifth-seeded Russian saved a set point in the opening tiebreaker and twice needed extensive treatment on his legs as he ended the run of the Swiss veteran 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 3-6 6-1 in two hours and 34 minutes.
Wawrinka, the 2016 champion, might have felt he might have another retirement on his hands, having seen previous opponent Novak Djokovic throw in the towel two nights earlier, but that was not the case on Tuesday.
Medvedev improved his tour-leading total to 49 victories this year to become the youngest semi-finalist in New York since Djokovic in 2010.
"It was a really strange match. I had real pain in my quadriceps and thought I couldn't finish,” he said.
“I feel really strange but I am happy to be in my first major semi.”
with AAP