Federer sent crashing by Blake in Beijing

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — Top seed Roger Federer was sent crashing out of the Olympic Games on Thursday when US number one James Blake pulled off a shock 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) quarter-final victory.

Federer, who is enduring the worst season of his career, was broken when serving for the first set and crushed in the second-set tie-break, ending his bid for a first Olympic medal.

It was Federer's third defeat in six matches since losing his five-year Wimbledon crown. The 27-year-old Swiss is also set to be supplanted by Rafael Nadal on Monday after four-and-a-half years as world number one.

Blake, wearing a red headband to go with his white shirt and blue shorts, started with grim intent and Federer needed a service winner to stave off a break point in game eight.

The...