Father Time rushes up on Federer After crashing out in the fourth round of the US Open, Roger Federer shrugged off any notion he might quit. Roger Federer during his loss to Tommy Robredo. OLD, gritty Armstrong Stadium erupted in loud chants of "Lets Go Roger" as Roger Federer ambled onto the court for the final time at U.S. Open 2013 last night. From the New York Post It was 8:02 p.m. and every single seat was taken, standing room only. Federer was down two sets, down a break at 5-4, with Spain's Tommy Robredo serving for the match. They still believed. Like so many "Let's go Mets" chants heard across the street over the years, this one, too, proved futile. Federer looked as old as the stadium, as old as Willie Mays and Joe Namath in their final days across the street. The Swiss Maestro didn't look like the seventh seed. He looked like the 70th seed - age 32 going on 42. Federer all but whiffed with his backhand at Robredo's first delivery, a foul tip. Robredo crushed a forehand winner on a short Federer return for match point. Then Federer failed to get Robredo's next serve in play, banging it off the frame, losing in straight sets in the fourth round, ending a sad, rainy day at the Open. As fast as you can say "Father Time," the anticipated Rafael Nadal-Federer showdown was off. No historic meeting in the Open quarterfinals between the great rivals - the only Grand Slam at which they have never slugged it out. Used to be, Nadal couldn't get far enough to get to Federer in the Open draw. Now it's the reverse. "It's going to be great for the city," one of Nadal's friends said during yesterday's rain delay. If it happens. Robredo wins, Federer loses and the Open loses. The fans gave a polite ovation for Robredo, but they filed out of the old barn in silence. The tournament needed a blockbuster match, a big spark. But it fizzled out on Labor Day. The Federer match had been moved from Ashe Stadium to Armstrong because of the afternoon rain delays. It was his first Armstrong match since 2006. "That should not be the issue," Federer said. I was even happy about it. I thought it would be a great atmosphere. The issue is whether he will ever thrill the Flushing crowds again with his genius. It is hard to imagine Federer ever getting to an Open final again, not after seeing him blow five break points early in the third set after jumping up, 40-love. "I just think it's been a difficult last three months," Federer said. The story of my life. When I lose, people are shell-shocked to see me play this way. If I win, it's the best thing. His Flushing decline started in 2009, and his mental block here keeps getting worse. He blew a two-sets-to-one lead in the finals to Juan Martin Del Potro, ending his run of five straight Opens. Then he blew match points in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic two straight years. Last year, he was ousted in the quarters by Tomas Berdych. Now last night's fourth-round fiasco. We thought Federer's greatness would never end, that he'd unleash one more great run here, give us one more historic Flushing moment. Federer said last night he "kind of self-destructed." So has a wonderful era.