Switzerland's Roger Federer
Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts as he walks off court after being defeated by Andreas Seppi of Italy in their men's singles third round match at the Australian Open 2015 tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2015. Reuters/Issei Kato

World No. 2 Roger Federer is eliminated early in the first grand slam tournament of the year after losing in four sets, 6-4 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(5) to Andreas Seppi of Italy in the third round of the 2015 Australian Open. This becomes the first time in fourteen years that the Swiss Maestro will not qualify in the fourth round in the grand slam in Melbourne while the Italian served the first major upset in the men’s side of the tournament.

“Just a bad day, yeah. I mean, I wish I could have played better, but clearly it was tough losing the first two, you know. Had chances to get back into it. I let it slip, I mean, both times in some ways. I guess I won the wrong points out there today,” Federer said in the tournament’s official website. “I knew how important that second set tiebreaker was, so clearly that hurt, losing that one. The end wasn't pretty, you know. It wasn't easy to play with the shadow. But it was the same for both of us. Just a disappointing loss, you know.”

Federer was quick to credit his opponent as well especially that Seppi got his first win against him their head to head meeting. Federer was 10-0 against Seppi in the previous 10 matches.

“Yeah, of course. You know, to beat Roger first time, especially in a Grand Slam, best-of-five, is a special moment for me. Of course at the beginning I just went on the court to enjoy the match and to play my best tennis. Yeah, but especially after the first set, then I felt, you know, I am there, I am hitting the ball very well. I start to believe that I can do more. Yeah, then I think very important was the second set tiebreak. And, yeah, it worked out pretty well,” Seppi said post-match.

Seppi faces home country bet Nick Kyrgios in the next round. Other results in the third round include Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) over Viktor Troiki (Serbia), 6-4 6-3 6-4, Bernard Tomic (Australia) over Sam Groth (Australia), 6-4 7-6(8) 6-3, Rafael Nadal (Spain) over Dudi Sela (Israel) 6-1 6-0 7-5, Andy Murray (Great Britain) over Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-1 6-1 7-5 and Grigor Dimitrov over Marcos Baghdatis 4-6 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3. 


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