Roger Federer won two matches on Thursday after play was backed up due to rain a day earlier.
But 24 hours later Federer’s Italian Open campaign was over after he confirmed he was struggling with a leg injury.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement: “I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete today.
“I am not 100 per cent physically and, after consultation with my team, it was determined that I not play.
“Rome has always been one of my favourite cities to visit and I hope to be back next year.”
But within hours of the withdrawal the official ATP Tour website were putting a positive spin on the Swiss’ exit.
A story with the headline ‘Why There Is Good News For Roger Federer’ explained how reaching the quarters ensured he would still keep hold of the No.3 ranking ahead of the French Open.
Federer will leave Italy with 5,950 points ensuring he is guaranteed to be seeded third at Roland Garros.
The ATP add: “Regardless of anyone else’s results at the Foro Italico, Federer will take a 1,105-point lead over World No. 4 Dominic Thiem into the second Grand Slam championship of the season.
“The last time the 2009 champion competed on Paris’ terre battue, Federer was seeded second and reached the quarter-finals.”
Federer’s arch rival Rafael Nadal will take on Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Italian Open semi-finals today.
That will be followed by Novak Djokovic’s clash with Diego Schwartzman, who beat Kei Nishikori on Friday.