Roger Federer Breaks Agassi’s Record – Becomes Oldest World No1 After Beating Robin Haase

Roger Federer has broken Andre Agassi’s record as the oldest top-ranked player in tennis history after defeating Robin Haase in the World Tennis Tournament quarter-finals in Rotterdam.

The 36-year-old Swiss, who won his 20th grand slam title last month by claiming a sixth Australian Open, replaced Rafael Nadal at the top of the ATP rankings with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over the Dutchman.

Literally, it means that he will surpass Nadal as No.1 when rankings are updated on Monday and beat Agassi’s record by three years (the American was 33 years, 131 days, back in 2003).

    Apparently I’m the oldest tennis player with a #1️⃣ ranking. Somebody might have mentioned that to me already but I had a hard time hearing 👴🏻

    — Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) February 16, 2018

Federer will also extend his record for most weeks as No.1 to 303.

    “Reaching No 1 is one of, if not the ultimate achievement in our sport,”an emotional Federer said on court immediately after the match.

    “Sometimes at the beginning you just kind of get there because you played so well but later you have to fight for it and have to wrestle it back from someone who deserves to be there. When you are older you maybe have to put double the work in. This maybe means the most to me in my career.”

Agassi was 33 when he was last on top in September 2003.

The American was quick to congratulate Federer:

    36 years 195 days…@RogerFederer continues to raise the bar in our sport. Congratulations on yet another remarkable achievement!!

    — Andre Agassi (@AndreAgassi) February 16, 2018

Federer’s return to the top spot will be formally rubber-stamped when the men’s tour rankings are published on Monday.

Federer also beats the mark set by the record holder in the women’s game, Agassi’s compatriot Serena Williams, who was 35 when she was last No 1 in May 2017.