Federer's annus horribilis continues as Blake ends Olympic hopes - for ever

The five-times Wimbledon champion will be 31 when the next Games come along and that will surely be a tournament too far after he was beaten 6-4, 7-6 by America's James Blake in the quarter-final.

The Swiss ceremonial flag holder now heads to New York to defend his one remaining Grand Slam title with his confidence in tatters after losing to a player whom he had beaten in all eight of their previous meetings.

His latest error-strewn performance means that 2008 is turning into an annus horribilis for Federer, who was humiliated by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final before being narrowly outpointed in their Wimbledon classic barely a month ago. 

Suffering Swiss: Federer's recent turmoil continued with defeat to Blake

Blake, clinging on to his place in the world's top 10, proved too solid at the pristine new Olympic tennis stadium, which was designated by the outgoing world No 1 as the place where he would launch his season's recovery.

'If you play him enough times, he's bound to have an off day,' said Blake. 

An 'off day' for Federer, but a jubilant Blake was very much in form

What will worry Federer is that he had openly set great store by this tournament - which he has not won in two previous attempts - preparing thoroughly for an event that was to show that his form is a slump rather than a crisis.

As part of his preparation, he had decided to stay away from the athletes' village where he would have been hounded by autograph hunters. It will all be rubbed in on Monday when Nadal assumes the world's No 1 ranking, ending Federer's reign which has lasted since February 2004.

The truth is that so many people are now beating him that the Tiger Woods aura he once enjoyed is disappearing and the likes of Blake, who has failed to trouble him before in all their meetings, now walk on court with the belief they can win.

Since that shuddering defeat at the All England Club, where Nadal was a man inspired, Federer has failed to silence the doubters, going down to unpredictable Frenchman Gilles Simon, big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic and now the powerful baseliner Blake.

There was a major upset in the women's competition with Serena Williams losing in three sets to fifth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia, who won a silver medal in Sydney in 2000. Williams won the first set but struggled with Dementieva's serve and eventually lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.