Roger Federer Reached The Top Eight Years Ago

Written by: Staff on 4th February 2012

Roger Federer Reached The Top Eight Years Ago

Roger Federer of Switzerland waves to the crowd after winning his men's quarter final match against Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 24 January 2012. Federer won in three sets. EPA/MAST IRHAM |

Roger Federer night not mark the occasion personally, but tennis stat-keepers have noted that it was exactly eight years ago this week that the Swiss began his phenomenal run of form which carried him into tennis history.

In February2, 2004, Federer claimed the ATP No. 1 ranking (from Andy Roddick) for the first time, holding it for a record 237 weeks in a row and a total of 285 overall – that’s one shy of the 286 of Pete Sampras.

Federer, 30, has been shut out of a return to the top since losing the pacesetter position to Rafael Nadal in June, 2010, followed by Novak Djokovic, who seized the top ranking last July, sending Federer to third.

Djokovic, who began his season with another Australian Open title, still has a huge task if he’s to defend ten titles from 2011. He leads Nadal by 2,800 points with many to defend in the next few months: Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome and Belgrade.

Nadal is taking February off to rest while Federer is playing Davis Cup, Rotterdam and Dubai this month with chances to close the points gap on his longtime Spanish rival.

“We have had good matches over the years, I enjoy playing him,” Federer said of Nadal, who beat him in an Australian Open semi-final and then lost the final to Djokovic in an historic six hours.

“The crowd really gets into it, which is nice. We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too. I hope it inspires future generations or other players, you know, being nice to each other on the court.

“We play well against each other. I always think he plays a bit better against me than against other players, but that’s good for him.”

Topics: Roger Federer