Federer slump continues with Swiss Open 2nd round loss against No. 55 Brands

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 semifinals to left-hander Federico Delbonis of Argentina, who was ranked No. 114.