Back to the Tennis Newsfeed

Roger Federer’s Return to Clay Ends in a Quarterfinal Loss to Dominic Thiem

Gabriel Bouys/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

MADRID — Roger Federer’s return to clay lasted only three matches.

A day after saving two match points at the Madrid Open, Federer squandered two match points himself in the quarterfinals against Dominic Thiem on Friday, losing, 3-6, 7-6 (11), 6-4.

It may have ended his first appearance at a clay-court tournament in three years, but Federer was not overly disappointed with the outcome.

“I feel very good about my game,” Federer said. “I thought I had some good matches here. I feel good on the clay right now.