Q: Are you well, Roger?
A: I’m well, yeah. How are you?
Q: I don’t have to run.
A: Well, I didn’t have to run much to-day, either

A pleasant piece of jousting welcomed Roger Federer into the inquisition chamber here yesterday, a place where he normally engages in a relaxed musing as to why this or that player has fallen under his spell. These will usually occur about an hour after his match, affording plenty of time for him to look perfect for the cameras.

Except that recently, the world No 1 has been into the press room within 15 minutes, a touch flustered and not knowing what to expect as a question and what his answer might be. That was the case at the Pacific Life Open, after his 6-3, 6-2 defeat by Mardy Fish, the American, in the semi-finals, his worst day at the office in seven years in terms of fewest games won in a three-set match. Federer played jumpily with the microphone, much as he had done with his game on the court against Fish, a former top20 player who fell away to No 341 at the start of 2006 after a series of injuries, the worst of which, to his left wrist, required two operations the previous year. In this tournament, Fish had beaten Nikolay Davydenko, Lleyton Hewitt and, in the quarter-finals, David Nalbandian, but no one had anticipated what a destructive force he had become. He beat Federer in 63 minutes.

And so what should we make of this result? Its repercussions are manifold, because we aren’t used to seeing Federer being beaten in this manner. One can argue that he lost in the second round here last year to Guillermo Cañas of Argentina, an equally earth-shaking occurrence and went on to win two of the three remaining grand-slam tournaments, reach the final of the other and win the Masters Cup, not exactly the performances of a man on his uppers. And so, where are we with the Wimbledon champion?

Psychology

Andy Roddick said this week: “You guys are shutting the door on Fed too quickly, it’s a little ridiculous.” But with each defeat his aura of invincibility is eroded. Too many players think they are beaten before they walk on to the court against Federer and do not trust enough in their own talent. Believing you can beat the best player in the world is not an easy concept but results like Fish’s harden everyone’s resolve. Fish remarked: “If you are not on top of your game, somewhere down the road guys are going to get you.”

Preparation

Federer’s build-up for this tournament was playing an exhibition match against Pete Sampras at Madison Square Garden, New York, the previous Monday, one that he squeaked in a third set tie-break. One leading coach said this week that he was flabbergasted that Federer had agreed to such an arrangement. “Who’s advising him?” he asked, “because if I was in his corner, he would not have gone within a million miles of that match.” Being handed a walkover into the semi-finals might not have been the bonus it appeared on the surface. “I was a little bit deflated yesterday,” Federer said. “I think playing Tommy [Haas] would have given me a great rhythm.”

Coaching

The last time Federer was on the receiving end of a result this injurious, by Filippo Volandri, of Italy, at the Rome Masters Series event last year, he had just ended his relationship with Tony Roche. He has not had a coach since and has been working here with Severin Luthi, Switzerland’s Davis Cup captain. But what experience does Luthi have to be anything more than a ball-carrier? Federer’s practice sessions lack the intensity of those of Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

Rivals

They are beginning to mount. David Nalbandian’s two victories over Federer at the end of last year were a definite statement, Djokovic stayed strong in the Australian Open semi-finals, likewise Andy Murray in Dubai. Fish came out firing and did not back down when Federer played the occasional Federer-like shot. Who is next?

Fitness

Is Federer really over the glandular fever that afflicted him in Australia? Mario Ancic, the Croatian, was out for almost a year with the illness and perhaps its effects have remained longer in the Federer system than he hoped. He looks extremely healthy but this is an invigorating climate. He intends to play an extra week on clay this year to prepare himself for the French Open but one worries if he might be trying too hard to win the one grand-slam title that has eluded him.

Troubling times

Federer’s record since Wimbledon

2007 Canadian Masters, Toronto, lost in final to Novak Djokovic 7-6, 2-6, 7-6.

Cincinnati Masters, beat James Blake 6-1, 6-4 in final

US Open, beat Novak Djokovic 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 in final

Davis Cup v Czech Republic world group play-off, won his singles against Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych

Madrid Masters, lost in final to David Nalbandian 7-6, 3-6, 6-3

Basel, beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-4 in final

Paris Masters, lost in fourth round 6-4, 7-6 to David Nalbandian

Tennis Masters Cup, Shanghai, beat David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in final

2008 Australian Open, lost in semis to Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-3, 7-6

Dubai, lost in first round to Andy Murray 6-7, 6-3, 6-4

Indian Wells Masters, lost in semi-finals 6-3, 6-2 to Mardy Fish