The day Roger Federer became number 1 in tennis for the first time

On February 2, 2004 It was a day that was marked in tennis history. Because that Sunday of 19 years ago Roger Federer became world number 1 for the first time. The Swiss, for many The best of all timereached the top of ranking after beating Marat Safin in the final of the australian open.

With scarcely 22 yearsthe talented player conquered his second grand slam (he had already won Wimbledon the previous year) and reached the top of the ranking, displacing the American Andy Roddick.

Also read: Roger Federer: why he is considered the best tennis player in history

In that tournament, Federer defeated four figures in the decisive instances. In the round of 16, the victim was the Australian Lleyton Hewitt, which was ranked 11th in the ranking and had all the support of the public for being local. In addition, he had already won in Australia, so he was a very difficult opponent.

Then he had to face the Argentine David Nalbandianwho was the eighth racket in the world. The Cordovan and Hewitt were the only two who managed to win a set from Roger in the entire competition.

The Spanish Juan Carlos Ferrero was his opponent in the semifinals. He swept the 3rd in the world in straight sets and thus agreed to the final, in which the Russian was waiting for him Marat Safina specialist in fast courts.

In Melbourne ParkBefore a crowd, Roger brought out his entire tennis repertoire and reduced his opponent to a minimum, who only managed to fight in the first set. It was a 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory for the Swiss in two hours and 15 minutes of play. Thus began his first reign, which lasted for 237 weeks. As recently as August 16, 2008 Rafael Nadal could move him from the first position in the ranking.

The remembered final of the 2004 Australian Open, against Marat Safin. That day Roger would be champion and would reach the first position in the ranking.

A record, of the many that Federer has, which is related to his enormous validity. Because in June 2018, with almost 37 yearsIt was the last time he came to lead the ranks of the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP). This gave him the privilege of being the longest-serving world champion in history.

roger came to Melbourne in 2004 as number 2 in the world and with the aim of achieving two achievements that are still pending: registering his name in the Grand Slam in Australia and ascending to the top of the ranking for the first time. He had lost that opportunity months before at the Montreal Masters 1000 by losing in the semifinals with Andy Roddick.

Also read: Roger Federer: the beginnings of the blond boy with a bad character who broke rackets

His first week in that place of honor in world tennis changed his life. “I vividly remember a talk I had after I became world number 1. I returned to Switzerland, I had a conversation with Pierre Paganini, my physical trainer”.

“He said, ‘Just do me a favor. Don’t chase money-for-participation guarantees. Don’t play all the tournaments’. I did not do it. From there I tried to make my schedule as good as possible and I think that that was the best decision of my career”, he assured.

Roger Federer’s retirement: in a doubles match playing as a couple with Nadal

“Now I am happy to have been faithful to that plan of do not exaggerate in tournament participation and to take time off”, says Federer, who conquered 20 Grand Slam tournaments and is the biggest winner of the emblematic Wimbledon Open (8 titles). He managed to prevail in the 4 most important open: 6 times in Australia, once at Roland Garros, 5 in the United States (besides the crowns mentioned in the English lawn).

Persecuted by injuries to his left leg, Roger announced his retirement from the activity on September 15, 2022, after almost 26 years of successful career. His last match as a professional was played a few days later, on the 23rd of that month, in a doubles that he played as a couple with his archrival Rafael Nadal. That day they lost to Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock 6-4, 6-7 and 9-11.