Roger Federer. A career full of records. Like perhaps no one else in the history of the game. The Swiss is the oldest number 1 in history. It happened in 2018, at the Rotterdam tournament. Andre Agassi had to give up the title. We remember him in this farewell of 2022, when the world celebrates the youngest record holder in history: Carlos Alcaraz.
Roger Federer became the world number 1 for the first time on February 2, 2004. He is only 22 years old and has just won the second Grand Slam of his career, the Australian Open. It will be his first season as a true ruler, as he also won in London and New York.
A fact that must be understood: Facebook would be invented just two days later. Another moment. The trio would also succeed him in 2006 and 2007. But that’s another story. Because we have to advance the time machine 14 years, to February 16, 2018.
We are in the Netherlands, Atp 500 Rotterdam. After eliminating Bemelmans and Kohlschreiber, Federer faces host Robin Haase in the quarterfinals. A friend, actually. With Robin, Roger often shares training in Dubai in the off-season, and even in the Netherlands the two have worked together during off-season sessions.
After losing the first set 6-4, the Swiss phenomenon came from behind to win with a double 6-1. And, at 36 years old, he is once again number 1 in the world. The greatest in history, including Andre Agassi, who achieved the feat at age 33 in 2003.
All this 14 years and 17 days after the first time, as has been said: another record. At the end of the match, local idol Richard Krajicek (Wimbleon winner in 1996) came out onto the court to pay his respects to a cheering crowd.
Pierre Paganini comments on Federer
Pierre Paganini, Roger Federer’s physical trainer for 22 years, recently spoke about the 20-time Major winner, calling him “100 percent pure.” “That’s why I think this decision is so wise,” he said.
“You can retire from the ATP Tour, but maybe you still want to live your passion for tennis. Roger’s resignation is also a relief for me. We don’t want him to get injured again and then have physical problems in his future.
In top-class sport you have to go to the limit in training, but you also have to be able to decide when it’s too much. It doesn’t happen spontaneously on Thursday at a quarter past three,” he said. “Since July, when he started to combine the different training elements, he noticed that he had to take more and more detours and try harder. He had to make greater efforts for a relatively low intensity.”
