Roger Federer joked he had extended his run of grand slam quarter-final appearances after Robin Soderling ended one of the greatest runs in professional sport.
Soderling stunned defending champion Federer at Roland Garros to deny the Swiss a 24th consecutive semi-final in a major as lightning struck for the second time in two years on Philippe Chatrier Court.
Fifth seed Soderling, who had lost all 12 of his previous meetings with the world number one, came from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 in a rain-hit two-and-a-half hours.
Federer was philosophical both about tonight's defeat and the end of his amazing run, describing it as one of the proudest achievements of his career.
"It all comes to an end at some stage," said the 28-year-old, whose last defeat prior to the semi-final stage of a grand slam came at the same tournament six years ago.
"I think it was a great run - now I've got the quarter-final streak going, I guess.
"It's been an amazing run.
"If I could have signed for all those semis in a row, I would've done it right away, so I've made incredible progress in terms of my play at the highest of levels, to be able always to come back and play semis after semis after semis in slams and give myself chances to win slams.
"I was able to win many of them, so I'm very proud of myself about that streak and it's probably one of the greatest ones I have in my history books."
Tonight's defeat was very much unlucky 13 for the Swiss, coming against a man who went into today's match as the only player on tour to have faced him on more than 10 occasions and lost every time.
Federer claimed his defeat was easier to handle because he felt he had played well.
He said: "I'm disappointed to a certain degree. I didn't think I played a bad match, so it's easier to go out this way.
"Conditions obviously were on the rougher side for both of us, and I thought he came up with some great tennis.
"So it's much easier to digest this way."
Federer, who will lose his world number one crown to Nadal if the Spaniard goes on to lift the title, believes the conditions played into Soderling's hands.
However, the Swiss maestro refused to dwell on the possibility of him losing the number one ranking.
He said: "You just take the defeat as it is - you don't think of the consequences.
"I am most disappointed that I can't defend my title here.
"I really felt like my tennis was good enough to come here and do it again, but that was not the case.
"I don't mind slow clay. When it gets rainy, it's tough. Your mind starts wandering.
"I'm not blaming the conditions or anything, but I think they were in his favour towards the end.
"If you serve 225-230kph, you can still hit through the court on the serve. I may be lacking those five to 10ks extra to hit through a guy on the serve.
"Of course, I'm disappointed to have lost three matches in the rain on clay this season: in Estoril, in Rome, and now here again."