Roger Federer’s press conference from May 9, 2013

Q.  Would you like to have another rest or better to get on to the next tournament?
ROGER FEDERER:  Another rest of seven weeks?  Why not?  I feel like I want to go to the practice courts this afternoon, but clearly I’m not going to do that.  I’m going to make sure I’m going to be as well prepared as I can be for Rome.
I’ll sit together tonight or tomorrow with the team and discuss what the plan is for the next few days and weeks now.  So I’m excited for that, because clearly I have no choice but to hit the practice courts.  And I like to do that, and I’ll do that well and hard if that’s the route I choose.

Q.  Do you have the impressions that the young generations are pushing harder this year than they used to do, like Dimitrov and now Nishikori? 
ROGER FEDERER:  I mean, new players?  We know them, but clearly I think the extra year on tour last year helped them.  I think they all started pretty well.  Has Kei won a tournament already this year.  I think he might have.
Dimitrov played the finals at the beginning of the year.  Raonic has shown that he can do many things as well.  Then there are other guys similar age who are doing better.
But that was to be expected, to be honest, you know, that they were going to have a bit of a breakthrough this year.  That’s nice to see.  But we’re still missing the generation of teenagers.  We’ll see what happens there.
Regardless, I think it’s exciting and good for the game that not‑so‑well‑known and younger guys are beating the top guys.
It’s good to see.  It means they believe in it.  I hope we’ll see more of it in the future.

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Federer flunks out of Madrid Open and looses No#2 rank

© Getty Images Roger Federer vowed to hit the practice courts in search of the rhythm he was lacking against Kei Nishikori.

Eurosport – Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his men’s singles match against Kei Nishikori of Japan at the Madrid Masters (Reuters)

ROGER FEDERER was incredibly dumped out of the Madrid Open by Kei Nishikori.

The defending champ was beaten by the Japanese No 14 seed 6-4 1-6 6-2 in only the 3rd round of play at the Madrid Open.

And Nishikori said: “This is my biggest win yet. It’s an amazing day.”  “Clearly the favorite for this tournament is Nadal,” Federer said.  “I’m disappointed with my match. Today Nishikori played better and the best man won,” said Federer.  I’m going to go back to the practice court, train hard, and make sure I don’t have these kinds of days anymore,” said the Swiss, who will slip back behind Andy Murray at No. 3 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday. “I was lacking control from the baseline, and that pretty much carried through from start to finish. I’m pretty disappointed with my play. I’m not sure how well Kei thought he played. I didn’t think he had to play his very best either, which is even more disappointing.

It was clear that Federer was out of match practice as he struggled to keep the ball on his racquet during the entire first set.  His masterful second set seemed to be the end of Nishikori but Federer seemed to loose focus quickly in the third set when he failed to break in the first games and was visibly upset with himself when he could not return Nishikori’s serve easily.

But Rafa Nadal made the last eight as he defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-2 6-3 in just 75 minutes. The Spaniard is bidding to reach a seventh final in a row since returning from a seven-month lay-off with a knee injury.  He is the clear favorite to win now that No1 & No2 have been beaten.

Serena Williams beat Russia’s Maria Kirilenko 6-3 6-1 in her third-round clash.

Watch Federer vs Nishikori highlights here: