Roger Federer’s loss to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon had an effect on his US Open.
That’s the view of tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who saw Federer be beaten by Grigor Dimitrov in the last eight at Flushing Meadows.
The US Open was the first Grand Slam since Wimbledon, where Roger Federer was beaten in the final by Djokovic.
It was an all-time classic with Djokovic finally winning on a fifth set tie-break, saving a number of match points.
And Mourtaglou believes the manner of that defeat was still in Federer’s mind heading to New York.
“It definitely hurt Roger mentally and that’s reasonable,” Serena Williams’ coach told Greek publication SDNA.
“It would hurt anyone if it were so close. He had it in his hands and escaped.
“And it’s that there is this ‘race’ between him and two others for first in Grand Slam victories.
“So this match, that point was very important.
“Although he is an incredible champion, it is very difficult to forget something like this. He may have forgotten it, but it definitely influenced him.”
Djokovic’s Wimbledon win earned him his 16th Grand Slam title.
Rafael Nadal is three ahead of the Serb on 19, just one behind Federer’s tally of 20.
But tennis legend Rod Laver believes Federer will be remembered as the greatest.
“He seems to be fine and that’s what counts,” Laver told Swiss newspaper Aargauer.
“If you love the game as much as you do, that’s fine.
“I also give Roger a very good chance of winning the Australian Open again in Melbourne in January.
“Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are all big champions. But Roger surpasses tennis, the world of sport, and sports in general in a way that no one in history has done before him.
“He is the most recognised athlete in the world and a figurehead for this great game.”
