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Congrats to Roger Federer and his fans. Just 19 months ago Federer’s career was in limbo after re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee in a 5-set loss to Milos Raonic at 2016 Wimbledon. Fast forward to today in the Rotterdam quarterfinals when a Robin Haase double fault returned the Swiss great to No. 1.
At 36, Federer on Monday will become the oldest No. 1 in ATP ranking history (since 1973). And he’s back on top for the first time since October 2012, replacing rival Rafael Nadal.
“What an amazing run it’s been and a journey it’s been for me throughout, so to clinch World No. 1 again this following Monday here in Rotterdam really means a lot to me, so thank you very much, everybody,” Federer said during a special on court ceremony.
“I think reaching No. 1 is one of, if not the ultimate achievement in our sport. So sometimes at the beginning you just all of a sudden get there just because you’re playing so well. Later you sometimes try to fight it back and you wrestle it back from somebody else who deserved to be there and when you’re older you know you feel like you feel like you have to put maybe sometimes double the work in so this one maybe means the most to me throughout my career, getting to No. 1 and enjoying it right here at 36, almost 37 years old, is an absolute dream come true, I can’t believe it.”
Federer, who beat Haase 46, 61, 61, will now face the Andreas Seppi-Daniil Medvedev winner in the quarterfinals. Federer is 10-0 on the year.
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