Roger loses to long-time nemesis yet again

This looks like a case of deja vu: Federer suffered two straight losses to the same player within a matter of weeks and in two consecutive Masters Series tournaments no less.

Earlier in the spring it was to Argentine Guillermo Cañas at Indian Wells and Miami, the first two Masters Series tournaments of the season. This time around, it was to yet another Argentine, David Nalbandian, who defeated Federer about two weeks ago to win his first career Masters Series shield in Madrid and then again just yesterday in the third round of the AMS Paris tournament. AMS Madrid and AMS Paris happen to be the last two Masters Series tournaments of the season. Coincidentally, both Argentines were also making a comeback of sorts: Cañas after a two-year suspension for drug use and Nalbandian from a dismal season.

The world number one already had a shaky start in this last ATP tournament of the season as he managed to eke out a three-set win (6-3 4-6 6-3) over Ivo Karlovic in the second round.

Things were hardly different in the third round where Nalbandian broke the Swiss' serve early on in both the first and second sets. Federer never recovered in the first set and although Federer fought back from a break down to force a tie-break in the second set, he still eventually lost in straight sets 4-6 6(3)-7 as Nalbandian pulled away in the tie-break.

All I can say to this is I hope that Federer will bounce back in time for the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. And at least he has more time to rest and prepare to take on the tour's top players in that tournament.