Federer makes earliest Aussie Open exit in 14 years

Swiss legend Roger Federer said there was nothing to read into his earliest exit from the Australian Open in 14 years after he was dumped out by Italian Andreas Seppi Friday.
 
The 46th-ranked Seppi mastered Federer for the first time in 11 meetings, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) in almost three hours, to reach the fourth round for only the fourth time at the slams.
 
The Italian giantkiller will now face either Australian youngster Nick Kyrgios or Tunisia's Malek Jaziri.
 
It was the Swiss 17-time Grand Slam champion's earliest exit from the Australian Open since 2001, while he was ousted in the second round at Wimbledon in 2013.
 
Federer was chasing his fifth Australian Open crown, but has now not won a major title since Wimbledon in 2012.
 
He insisted there was nothing to take out of his early departure after reaching the semi-final stage for 11 consecutive years in Melbourne.
 
"To me I don't read anything into that (the loss). It's just not the best feeling to have," the 33-year-old said.
 
"It's not like I'm playing shocking or I'm feeling shocking. If I were you, I wouldn't read very much into that."  

It was a stunning win for Seppi, who had only taken one set off Federer in their previous 10 encounters.
 
But he had the Swiss great off balance on Rod Laver Arena, where the big stadium crowd was fully behind Federer, urging him to fight his way back.
 
"I guess it was just an overall feeling I had today out on the court that I couldn't really get the whole game flowing," Federer admitted.
 
"It's just when it counted the most somehow it just ended up going his way. I think that was because overall I wasn't feeling it quite as well.
 
"I...