Federer replaces Andre Agassi in record books as he goes back to the top of the ATP rankings for the first time in over five years
Roger Federer reaches the semi-finals of the Rotterdam Open and regains the world No 1 spot at 36 years old
Roger Federer returned to the summit of men’s tennis for the first time in more than five years and became the oldest world No 1 in the sport’s history after he proved too strong for Robin Haase at Rotterdam's ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.
The 36-year-old Swiss great secured his spot in the history books and the last four of the tournament with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 victory against his Dutch opponent on Friday.
Federer, who needed to reach the semi-finals in order to overtake Rafael Nadal when the rankings are next updated on Monday, was last the top-ranked player in November 2012 and he has beaten the record of Andre Agassi, who was 33 when he topped the standings in 2003.
Highlights of Federer against Haase in the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam
"Reaching No 1 is one of, if not the ultimate achievements in our sport," said Federer, who will next meet Andreas Seppiafter the Italian prevailed 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 against Daniil Medvedev.
"Sometimes at the beginning, you get there just because you play so well. Later, you sometimes try to fight it back and you wrest it back from somebody else who deserved to be there, and when you're older you feel like you have to put maybe double the work in. So this one maybe means the most to me throughout my career."
Federer proved too strong for Robin Haase in three sets
Haase, who had lost the pair's previous two meetings, started tentatively and faced three break points in his opening service game of the match, but he showed some encouraging resolve to fight them off and hold serve.
The first set remained on serve until the ninth game when the world No 42 fired a forehand winner to secure the first break of the match and the Dutch player consolidated the break with a composed service hold to secure the opener.
Roger Federer reaches the semi-finals of the Rotterdam Open and regains the world No 1 spot at 36 years old
Roger Federer returned to the summit of men’s tennis for the first time in more than five years and became the oldest world No 1 in the sport’s history after he proved too strong for Robin Haase at Rotterdam's ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament.
The 36-year-old Swiss great secured his spot in the history books and the last four of the tournament with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 victory against his Dutch opponent on Friday.
Federer, who needed to reach the semi-finals in order to overtake Rafael Nadal when the rankings are next updated on Monday, was last the top-ranked player in November 2012 and he has beaten the record of Andre Agassi, who was 33 when he topped the standings in 2003.
Highlights of Federer against Haase in the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam
"Reaching No 1 is one of, if not the ultimate achievements in our sport," said Federer, who will next meet Andreas Seppiafter the Italian prevailed 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 against Daniil Medvedev.
"Sometimes at the beginning, you get there just because you play so well. Later, you sometimes try to fight it back and you wrest it back from somebody else who deserved to be there, and when you're older you feel like you have to put maybe double the work in. So this one maybe means the most to me throughout my career."
Federer proved too strong for Robin Haase in three sets
Haase, who had lost the pair's previous two meetings, started tentatively and faced three break points in his opening service game of the match, but he showed some encouraging resolve to fight them off and hold serve.
The first set remained on serve until the ninth game when the world No 42 fired a forehand winner to secure the first break of the match and the Dutch player consolidated the break with a composed service hold to secure the opener.
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