17-time Grand Slam Roger Federer Knocked Out Pre-QF French Open

French leave: Roger Federer leaves the court having lost to Ernests Gulbis Photo: AP

Roger Federer is knocked out of the French Open by Ernests Gulbis. The 17-time Grand Slam champ loses 6-7 7-6 6-2 4-6 6-3. Does it still qualify as a shock when Roger Federer goes out of a grand slam? After his five-set defeat on Sunday at the hands of the Latvian maverick Ernests Gulbis, Federer has now failed to reach the quarter-finals at three of the past four majors.

This was a tale of opportunities missed as Federer led by a set and 5-3 at one stage, only for one dropped service game to set off a chain reaction. He used to be the sport’s ultimate front-runner but his mystique is waning, and Gulbis pounced to claim what he described as the biggest win of his career: 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.