Federer Loses Number 1 Ranking to Djokovic

Written by: Staff on 5th November 2012

Federer Loses Number 1 Ranking to Djokovic

epa03450456 Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts during the final match against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 28 October 2012. EPA/URS FLUEELER |

Roger Federer is today officially unseated from the world no.1 spot for the third time in his long and illustrious career but even though his 31st birthday is long consigned to history, the Swiss is planning on playing a full schedule again next year, which would enable him to rise to the top ranking again.

Having fallen as low as world no.4 towards the end of last year, Federer replaced Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings with his seventh Wimbledon victory this summer. However his inability to defend the Basel title and choosing not even to contest the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris where he was champion in 2011, allowed the Serb to reclaim top spot.

“This is a full-on process that obviously takes a lot of sacrifice,” admitted Federer as he concluded his preparations to defend the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London and attempt to win the season ending title for a record seventh time. “For the time being I’m willing to do all of that.

“I’m putting my schedule into place for next year and there are no extraordinary changes. It’s really going to depend on how well you play at the big tournaments and if you’re going to win against your main rivals in the semis and finals.”

Through the course of 2012, each of the esteemed Big Four of Men’s Tennis has won a Grand Slam title: Djokovic at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal at the French Open, Federer at Wimbledon and Andy Murray at the US Open. Federer was asked whether he felt this week’s year-ending tournament would decide who is “the real no.1″, but he insisted: “We know who the real no. 1 is. It’s going to be Novak and I don’t think there should be any debate around about that.

“You don’t get to no.1 by chance. The rankings are something that shows how you have played over a 365-day period. It might all change again in two months at the Australian Open, but right now it’s clear.”

Federer insists the key to his longevity is to take extended breaks during the course of the year. “Overall, I think I’ve managed my schedule pretty well so that the back-end of a season does not feel like a back-end,” he said. “It feels more like a priority, being fresh mentally and physically. It’s also how you look at it. Instead of a dive over the finish line, it’s part of an ongoing season. Maybe the fact that it has been played indoors [in recent years] has helped.”