Roger Federer remains a huge force on the ATP eight years after cracking the world number one ranking and beginning a record-setting run that is likely to stand the test of time.
He claimed the ATP number one ranking for the first time on February 2, 2004, pushing aside Andy Roddick. Federer wore that mantle for a record 237 weeks in a row and a total of 285 overall — one week shy Pete Sampras’s 286.
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 in July and dropped Federer to third.
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Djokovic, who began his season with another Australian Open title, has 10 titles to defend 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, who ended 2011 by winning his last three events, is playing Davis Cup, Rotterdam and Dubai this month with chances to close the points gap on his long-time 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 semifinal and then lost the final to Djokovic in an historic six hours.
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“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.”