Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2012: What Roger Federer's Loss Means for His Future

Roger Federer's loss to Novak Djokovic in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia semi-final on Saturday could be viewed as a rare loss on Federer's stellar resume, but it is more than that.

Federer's loss to Djovokic helps pass his torch to today's younger players and shows Federer has taken a step back.

The tennis world has enjoyed Federer's presence on the major circuit since his 2003 victory at Wimbledon. He has had an incredible run, winning 16 majors, 838 matches and 74 career titles.

Federer's descent has been slow but sure.

Let's take a look at what this loss means for Federer's future and what we can expect from the Swiss legend.

What the Loss Means

Overall, the loss shows Federer's failing endurance. Younger players have caught up to Federer enough in the skills department that they can run his worn legs ragged, if need be.

When asked about the loss, Federer told ESPN.com, "Overall, I wasn't playing quite good enough. I've played a lot of tennis in the last few weeks. Novak was looking fresh, he was better tonight. He really put pressure on me."

Federer's aware of his current state. Djokovic ran him all over the court, and Rafael Nadal has done the same thing, several times, in recent years.

Federer is not going to ride off into the night after this loss. He will be back, but this loss points to his obvious decline.

Granted, Federer has played a ton of tennis. He needs a break more than younger players, but tournament settings do not allow that to happen.

Federer is still the world's No. 3 player, and he will stay that way barring a terrible defeat, but the gap has closed.

Federer used to be invincible. That was bound to end sometime, and it has.

How to Move Forward

This was not a loss at a major, but any loss is disheartening for a major sports star.

Federer will be able to move forward. He will need to rely on his craftiness in future matches, and he must attempt to stay stationery.

Federer had won 14 of his 24 career matches against Djokovic prior to this match. Djokovic was just in better shape on Saturday.

The Swiss tennis icon is not necessarily a worse player than he used to be. He is just different.

Every athlete has to adjust their style as their age progresses. Federer will be no different if he wants to remain relevant.