Federer’s Going-Away Party Includes the Williams Sisters

By JOHN BRANCH

BEIJING — Roger Federer walked off of Center Court at the Olympic Green Tennis Center to a quick burst of applause. The fans looked like pieces of confetti in their pastel-colored rain ponchos, but this was not the kind of going-away party Federer wanted. He moved quickly out of sight.

It was the last singles match he would play as the No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world, unless he someday regains the ranking he has held for four and a half years and will surrender to Rafael Nadal on Monday.

James Blake of the United States beat the suddenly beatable Federer, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the quarterfinals of the rain-delayed Olympic tournament.

Federer, on his way to a doubles match, did not slow to speak to reporters. “I’m disappointed,” he said as he walked past.

It was a common sentiment among some of the tennis world’s royalty, as a string of upsets overturned what had been a predictable tournament. China’s Li Na followed Blake’s performance with a surprise of her own, knocking Venus Williams from the tournament.

On Court 1 earlier in the day, Serena Williams had lost to Elena Dementieva, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Federer’s Going-Away Party Includes the Williams Sisters....