No. 1 like him: King Federer oldest to top world rankings : The Tribune India

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No. 1 like him: King Federer oldest to top world rankings

ROTTERDAM:Roger Federer, the new world No. 1, is the tennis GOAT — greatest of all time. He’s probably also the tennis COAT — coolest of all time.

No. 1 like him: King Federer oldest to top world rankings

Apparently I’m the oldest tennis player with a #1 ranking. Somebody might have mentioned that to me already but I had a hard time hearing. — Roger Federer



Rotterdam, February 17

Roger Federer, the new world No. 1, is the tennis GOAT — greatest of all time. He’s probably also the tennis COAT — coolest of all time. Thus, after becoming the oldest world No. 1 ever, male or female, he was able to laugh at his agedness, writing on Twitter: “Apparently I’m the oldest tennis player with a #1 ranking. Somebody might have mentioned that to me already but I had a hard time hearing. :-)” In interviews, he said he wanted to taste the No. 1 ranking just once more. “I came here for one week at world No. 1, just one more time,” said Federer.

Federer beat Dutchman Robin Haase 4-6 6-1 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the ABN AMRO tournament, which guaranteed that the Swiss would rise to No. 1 for the fourth time in his career on coming Monday. The oldest ever male world No. 1 before Federer was Andre Agassi, at 33 years in 2003; the oldest ever female No. 1 is Serena Williams at age 35 last year.

Extra special

“It’s a deep sense of satisfaction,” Federer said late last night after his win over Haase. “A lot of work went into it, coming back from the injury obviously. Just having had the year that I’ve had, winning three Slams, that’s what it took to get the ranking. I always planned for longevity and I never gave up that I could get back to winning ways.”

Federer took a wildcard for Rotterdam, knowing that a run to the semifinals would knock Rafa Nadal off the top.

‘One week is plenty’

Incredibly, Federer first became world No. 1 in 2004 on his way to winning the Australian Open. On that occasion he stayed there for 237 weeks. “The goal (this time) was to be world No. 1 for a week, that’s plenty for me,” he said.

Has he got a call of congratulations from Nadal?  “No, I don’t expect a call from Rafa,” Federer said. “He finished the world No. 1 at the end of last year, I don’t think it bothers him that I took over from him this week. I’m sure to some extent he’s happy for me, I was the same for him when he finished as the oldest ever world No. 1 at the end of last year. We support each other in these moments.”

And would he rather have another Wimbledon title, or finish 2018 as the No. 1? “I think I’d rather take another Wimbledon, rather than world No. 1 at the end of the year, because I’m world No. 1 right now!” grinned Federer. 

“I’m not sure if I feel like the best player in the world but I feel definitely I deserve it,” he added. “So many people are happy for me. That’s the other cool side of reaching world No. 1 — it’s not just for me personally, but it seems like it makes a lot of other people happy too!” 

Oldest world No. 1

  • 36 Roger Federer Feb 2018 
  • 33 Andre Agassi Sep 2003 
  • 31 Rafael Nadal Feb 2018 
  • 30 Jimmy Connors Jul 1983

Federer’s run at the top

  • Feb 2004 to Aug 2008 (237 weeks) 
  • Jul 2009 to Jun 2010 (48 weeks)  
  • Jul 2012 to Nov 2012 (17 weeks) 
  • Feb 2018 --- --

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