Happy Birthday Roger Federer: A look at his monumental records
Swiss maestro Roger Federer turned 39 on Saturday. Federer is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. An unmatched elegance on the court laced with audacious backhands and seamless volleys contribute to his longevity in the sport. Over the years, Federer has scripted some astounding records even after dealing with career-threatening injuries. We take a look at the same.
Roger Federer's resounding career
World number four Federer has won a record 20 Grand Slam titles so far, more than any other player in the history. Across Slams, he has clinched eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open titles, five US Open titles and one French Open title. The Swiss star also owns 103 ATP singles titles including 28 ATP Masters 1000 titles, and a record six ATP Finals.
Most number of Wimbledon singles titles
Federer holds the record of winning most number of Wimbledon men's singles titles (8). He surpassed the long-standing record of seven Wimbledon titles won by Pete Sampras. Moreover, Federer is the only male player in history to reach 12 Wimbledon finals. He shares the record of most appearances in a Grand Slam final with counterpart Rafael Nadal, who has reached 12 French Open finals.
Some notable feats of Federer
Federer is the only male player in history to win two different Grand Slam events at least six times (Australian Open, Wimbledon). Notably, he has won two Grand Slams five consecutive times (Wimbledon, 2003-07 and US Open, 2004-08).
Number one ATP player (by weeks)
Federer has spent 310 weeks as the number one-ranked player in the world, the most by any men's tennis player in the Open Era. Other players on the elite list are Pete Sampras (286), Novak Djokovic (282), Ivan Lenl (270) and Jimmy Connors (268). Interestingly, Federer has held the top spot for 237 consecutive weeks, also the highest by miles.
Federer's incredible streak on Grass Court
In his illustrious career, Federer has often scaled new heights on Grass Court. He holds the longest winning streak on grass in the Open Era, having won as many as 65 consecutive matches from 2003 to 2008. His invincible streak commenced by winning Wimbledon (2002) and ended as he lost the same tournament in 2008. Nevertheless, Federer's legacy in the sport will remain unmatched.
