Roger Federer's Loss in ATP World Tour Finals Deals Severe Blow to His Future

Roger Federer has won the ATP World Tour Finals a record six times, but he has not won the event since 2011. That will remain true after he fell in Group B play to No. 2 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 Tuesday at the O2 Arena in London. 

It comes as a disappointing failure for the No. 7 player, a fan favorite who has enjoyed much success in that city by winning at Wimbledon seven times. The Swiss supremo has vaulted himself into the discussion as the best tennis player ever with his 17 Grand Slam singles titles, but he has not dominated men's tennis since 2009.

Rafael Nadal is already nipping at his heels with 13 Grand Slams on his resume, and the top-ranked player is just 27 years old. 

The 32-year-old Federer hoped to silence rumblings that his career is nearing an end with a strong showing against Djoker. Instead, the defeat provided his critics with still more ammunition and indicated that his sublime dominance has escaped him for good.

What's Wrong with Roger

Prior to playing Federer, Djokovic was asked about what was different with Federer's game, per Simon Briggs of The Telegraph.  His response was measured as he delivered a back-handed compliment to his opponent: 

"

From my point of view, he hasn't been moving as well this year as he did the year before, and that’s one of the reasons why he hasn't had much success this year. But he is Roger Federer...he is never to be underestimated as long as he plays tennis.

"

It seemed like Djokovic decided to backtrack slightly by adding that last statement. The 26-year-old Serbian is correct, of course. No one should ever underestimate Federer, but each loss gives more weight to the argument that his career is toast.

And Djoker's assessment that Federer has not been moving well this year seems quite accurate. His forehand has lost a little sizzle and a lot of accuracy as unforced errors have become increasingly common.

Piers Newbery of BBC Sport noted during Tuesday's third and deciding set that Federer was decidedly off his game:

"

It's gripping stuff, even if neither man is at his best. Federer has just racked up his 40th error of the evening while Djokovic is on 30, and the Swiss star's usually fearsome forehand has proved the weak link so far with 19 missing the target.

"

That erratic play from Federer is part of a continuing trend. 

Being 30-something

This year began relatively well for Federer, as he advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before falling to Andy Murray in five sets. Then Federer was defeated in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. 

Disaster struck at Wimbledon when Federer lost to No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky, his earliest exit from the tournament since 2002. And at the U.S. Open, he fell short of the quarterfinals with a straight-sets loss to Tommy Robredo.

Federer has experienced a dramatic decline in his dominance over the last three years. Since the 2010 Australian Open, Federer has captured only one Grand Slam title—Wimbledon in 2012. Now, 2013 has been a debacle.

Though some tennis greats have continued strong play well past the age of 30, Federer's power game and stamina figure to decline with each passing day. That appeared to be just the case in his loss to Djokovic Tuesday. 

Directly behind Federer on the list of most Grand Slam singles titles is Pete Sampras, with 14. Sampras won his final Grand Slam at the 2002 U.S. Open when he was 31 years old. It was his only Grand Slam title in his 30s, and he retired at the age of 32.

It would be bittersweet to see Federer meet a similar fate so soon, but he is simply not as good as the superb youngsters ranked above him. Nadal and Djokovic are the futures of tennis, and one has to wonder how long Federer will be content to play third fiddle to them.