Roger Federer ‘just happy the match is over’ due to extreme conditions during US Open fourth round exit

Federer’s defeat by John Millman was played in temperatures in excess of 30 degrees Celsius and 70% humidity as the world No 2 suffered one of the most remarkable defeats of his career

Roger Federer admitted he was “just happy the match was over” after struggling through extreme conditions in his remarkable US Open fourth round defeat by world No 55 John Millman.

Speaking after his four-set loss, Federer admitted that he struggled to cope with the temperature and humidity inside the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the mercury was still at around 30 degrees Celsius at 1.00am when the match reached its conclusion and humidity levels were in excess of 70 per cent.

Federer made a fast start to the match but faded as the contest wore on, and said afterwards that he was heavily affected by the conditions that, he believed, his opponent coped with better.

“I just thought it was very hot tonight,” Federer said. “It was just one of those nights where I guess I felt I couldn’t get air. There was no circulation at all. For some reason I just struggled in the conditions. It’s one of the first times it’s happened to me.

“It’s uncomfortable. Clearly you just keep on sweating more and more and more and more as the match goes on. You lose energy as it goes by.

“John was able to deal with it better. He maybe comes from one of the most humid places on earth, Brisbane. I knew I was in for a tough one. Maybe when you feel like that, as well, you start missing chances, and I had those. That was disappointing.

“But, look, at some point also I was just happy that the match was over, I guess.

“When you feel like that, everything is off. But I’ve trained in tougher conditions. I’ve played in the daytime at 120(F). Some days it’s just not the day where the body can cope with it.”

The 20-time Grand Slam champion looked stumped as he slid towards defeat (Getty)

The 20-time Grand Slam winner was expected to come through the encounter and book a place in the quarter-finals against rival Novak Djokovic. That honour will now go to Millman, whose 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3) victory comes as the biggest of his career, having never beaten a top 10 opponent before.

But rather the reflect on an opportunity missed, Federer seemed somewhat pleased to leave New York given the current weather conditions, and he explained how the stadium’s new roof – which was completed in 2016 at a cost of $150m [£115m in September 2016] – has hampered ventilation to keep the players cool.

“I do believe since the roof is on that there is no air circulation in the stadium. I think just that makes it a totally different US Open,” Federer added. “I wish I could have led two sets to love and then maybe the match would be different and I would find a way. It was just tough. I thought John played a great match in difficult conditions.

Temperatures exceeded 30 degrees with humidity above 70 per cent (Getty)

“I’m happy I’m getting a rest now. Then I come back for the Laver Cup and hopefully finish the year strong.”

But after overcoming both Federer and the conditions, Millman was in jubilant mood afterwards as he continues what is proving to be his best year of his career in terms of results.

“I’m probably in a bit of disbelief. I have so much respect for Roger and everything he’s done for the game, and he’s been a hero of mine. Today he was definitely not at his best, but I’ll take it.

Federer admitted he was relieved to end his US Open fourth round match even though it was in defeat (AP)

“I’ll obviously remember this for a long, long time. I hope the people who are watching here and back home remember it, too. It’s extremely special. But hopefully I haven’t got a bullet in me yet, I can create a few more moments in my career.”