Madrid Flashback: Roger Federer falls to Kei Nishikori and ends great run

• Tennis News
• Roger Federer

Between 2009 and 2012, Roger Federer was among the players to beat in Madrid's Caja Magica. Roger won two titles and played in another final and the semi-final. The Swiss ended a good run in 2013, though, dethroned by Kei Nishikori in the third round.

The Japanese scored a 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 victory in an hour and 35 minutes on a regular red clay. It was their second meeting and the first victory for Kei. Nishikori left the second set behind and started all over in the decider to cross the finish line first despite winning seven points less than Federer.

The Swiss played better on the first and second serve. However, it was not enough to carry him home after wasting five out of seven break chances. Roger suffered three breaks to propel the rival over the top and lose a chance to fight for another Madrid crown.

Federer had more winners and forced mistakes, with around the same number of unforced errors on their tallies.

Roger Federer lost to Kei Nishikori in the 2013 Madrid third round.

They were neck and neck in the more extended rallies.

Roger forged the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes, although it was not enough to secure the win. Federer held at love in games one and three, but Nishikori was there to fight. The lower-ranked player fired a forehand winner at 2-2 to grab a break and move in front.

The Japanese confirmed the advantage with another forehand winner in game six and held at 15 in game ten to take the opener 6-4 in half an hour. Kei saved two break chances in the second set's second game with winners. Roger converted the fourth break opportunity in game four to open the lead and moved 4-1 in front after two direct points on his serve at deuce.

With momentum, Federer grabbed another break and closed the set with four winners in game seven, gaining a boost ahead of the decider. Nishikori secured a break at 2-1 when Federer landed a forehand wide to move in front. He forced Roger's error to open a 4-1 gap and held at love in game seven to remain in front.

Serving to stay in the match at 2-5, Federer got broken at 15, pushing his opponent into the quarter-final. Thus, he failed to reach at least the last four in Madrid for the first time since the event moved to clay in Caja Magica in 2009.