NEW YORK (AP) First came the end of Roger Federer's remarkable run of reaching a record 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals.
Then he failed to make it to a major semifinal after a record 23 in a row.
The U.S. Open marks Federer's last chance to prevent the close of another streak: Every season from 2003 to 2010, he won at least one Grand Slam title - and sometimes as many as three. He's 0-for-2011 heading into the year's last major tournament, where play is scheduled to begin Monday, despite some minimal damage to the site from Tropical Storm Irene.
This U.S. Open also is Federer's first major tournament since turning 30. That age tends to represent a barrier to success in tennis: Of the past 100 Grand Slam titles, only five were won by a man past his 30th birthday.