Gstaad, Switzerland Roger Federer slumped to a stunning defeat against No. 55 Daniel Brands in the Swiss Open second round on Thursday, his third straight tournament exit against a low-ranked opponent.
Federer had trouble handling Brands' serve and big forehands on the clay surface in the thin mountain air. The German right-hander won 6-3, 6-4 in just 65 minutes.
The 31-year-old Swiss star has now lost to players ranked Nos. 116, 114 and 55 in the past month at Wimbledon; Hamburg, Germany and now in front of his home fans.
Federer's own ranking of No. 5 is his lowest in a decade since he started his run of 17 Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon in 2003.
Federer saved a first match point by serving an ace when trailing 5-3, and a second in the next game with a forehand winner.
Brands, who took a set off Federer in a second-round loss at Hamburg, then clinched victory with a service winner,
Defeat spoiled Federer's return to Gstaad for the first time since he won the title in 2004 - and where he debuted on the ATP Tour in 1998.
Federer only came to Gstaad and Hamburg seeking extra match practice after his second-round exit at Wimbledon to No. 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine.
After a three-week break, Federer returned in Hamburg testing a new, bigger racket yet citing back pains which limited his movement.
He lost there in the semi-finals to left-hander Federico Delbonis of Argentina, who was ranked No. 114.
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