Looking at the rankings and the number of points Roger and Rafa have to defend this year, I'd say it's unlikely that Federer can regain it by the end of the season.
His best chance will probably come during next year's clay court season where he doesn't defend much and Nadal defends everything. Whether his game will be up to the level recquired to do it at almost 30 years old is anyone's guess, though.
moreover, -2000 points in wimbledon against nadal's 0. he'll never return n.1.. in next year's clay season nadal will defend all, and federer will possibly lose even badly than this year
moreover, -2000 points in wimbledon against nadal's 0. he'll never return n.1.. in next year's clay season nadal will defend all, and federer will possibly lose even badly than this year
How ignorant to say "HE HAS NO INTEREST IN RETURNING" to number 1. What a pathetic statement. He is still playing tennis, thus he obviously still enjoys the challenge. He's had a terrible 6 months. Obviously as one ages, the titles are going to be harder to come by. I think with so little to defend this year that he has a sure shot at being #1 this time next year... if he gets off to a good start and starts winning smaller tournaments.
It's Roger fault for losing so terribly at everything after Melbourne though. Indian Wells, Miami, etc. Ugh he should really regret those losses and of course his loss to Soderling here.
It's all cosmic justice for Federer. He deserves to lose his No. 1 ranking for not taking non-slam events seriously and for playing like shit. Good riddance.
Unfortunately I think it's unlikely... In the short term, his best chances at gaining points will come at the end of the year in Shanghai (if he plays) and Bercy, next year's spring season, and if Rafa doesn't have such a good clay season next year, but he's erratic off the slams as we've seen so I don't know if he'd be able to sustain a high level of performance that he needs in order to do that :shrug: Never expected him to return to #1 after he lost it the first time though and he did, so who knows.
He said at the ITF reception that finishing YE #1 is still a goal.
he said early this year that he was aiming at winning more tournaments than last year but he doesn't seem to be working that hard to achieve that so far... he's already one tournament short of last's year's.
2 of Top10, Mr.
And you forgot to write that the rest - 20 matches - were won against relatively poor enemies (usually 20+ in the ranking).
In my opinion, there is huge luck behind current Nadal's no. 1. As example he lost matches against 8 of Top10 players. His game is also relatively weak, he makes many errors, does not look like an invincible machine.
It's also probable that his health won't be perfect in the next months.
On the other side, Federer did look quite good at RG, so he will win something later, probably. Unfortunately for Federer, it's much easier to gain many points during the clay season. In the last year Nadal won 1 GS and just 3 tournaments - all in the last 2 months! ...and it was sufficient to regain no. 1. That's really amazing that 2 months of 12 decide... :O
I posted the following in the Federer forum but since it's being discussed here I hope people won't mind if I put it here also:
I think that the chance for breaking the record (by becoming number 1 again) might be gone for good. Nadal has an awful lot of points to pick up at Wimbledon and the World Tour Finals. Plus I wouldn't bet against him putting on a dominant performance on clay next year either. Also outsiide clay the points in Masters touraments are likely to be shared amongst top players...including Nadal.
In retrospect Federer only missed this record by a whisker. Things could have been so different if:
He had taken the match after being 2 points away from victory against Del Potro at the US Open
He had taken the match after being 2 points away from victory against Davydenko at WTF
He hadn't contracted a lung infection prior to the Dubai tournament
He had converted match points against Baghdatis and Berdych at Indian Wells and Miami respectively
He converted break point opportunities against Nadal in Madrid
Federer entered Monte Carlo
Nadal had withdrawn from Madrid, as some rumours appeared to suggest
A fit Del Potro / Davydenko could have won a match against Nadal on clay
Becker didn't gift Sampras the year end number 1 in 1998
Federer didn't make early exits in Cincy against Simon, Canada against Karlovic and the Olympics against Blake in 2008
Federer finshed ahead of Roddick at tne end of 2003
But of course all these are irrelevant now. What matters is he picks himself up from this and pursue his main goal: winning more Grand Slam tournaments. Getting the number 1 back is a secondary matter as far as the rest of his career is concerned, in my opinion.
I posted the following in the Federer forum but since it's being discussed here I hope people won't mind if I put it here also:
I think that the chance for breaking the record (by becoming number 1 again) might be gone for good. Nadal has an awful lot of points to pick up at Wimbledon and the World Tour Finals. Plus I wouldn't bet against him putting on a dominant performance on clay next year either. Also outsiide clay the points in Masters touraments are likely to be shared amongst top players...including Nadal.
In retrospect Federer only missed this record by a whisker. Things could have been so different if:
He had taken the match after being 2 points away from victory against Del Potro at the US Open
He had taken the match after being 2 points away from victory against Davydenko at WTF
He hadn't contracted a lung infection prior to the Dubai tournament
He had converted match points against Baghdatis and Berdych at Indian Wells and Miami respectively
He converted break point opportunities against Nadal in Madrid
Federer entered Monte Carlo
Nadal had withdrawn from Madrid, as some rumours appeared to suggest
A fit Del Potro / Davydenko could have won a match against Nadal on clay
Becker didn't gift Sampras the year end number 1 in 1998
Federer didn't make early exits in Cincy against Simon, Canada against Karlovic and the Olympics against Blake in 2008
Federer finshed ahead of Roddick at tne end of 2003
But of course all these are irrelevant now. What matters is he picks himself up from this and pursue his main goal: winning more Grand Slam tournaments. Getting the number 1 back is a secondary matter as far as the rest of his career is concerned, in my opinion.
I'd say that if Federer had seized his MP against Baggy and Berdych this year he could have broken the record. Those matches were tough and I think he could have advanced a few more rounds if he had passed through.
Even the match against Gulbis in Rome. If he had beaten Gulbis I think he would have advanced until the SF and that would have been enough for him to keep his no 1 today.
In retrospect, skipping MC was a terrible decision but we can only say that now.
I don't think Fed will have a problem getting at least one more week at #1 and breaking the record. Rafa's sure to have some physical trouble again the way he's been grinding, and even if he doesn't, Fed can still find a way.
Nadal will stay #1 for at least 52 weeks now, and probably longer. I don't see Federer taking it back unless the younger players collectively disappoint. He should keep focussing on the slams and forget #1.
hes married, he has two children, he's fuckin rich and he won all he could win in his life, he doesn't give a shit about small tournaments or defending points and so on, that's it, and that's the reason why he will never return number one
ballkid: More towels for you, although you won't win this match.
Fed: I don't care for these Mickey Mouse tournaments.
ballkid: Alright, the retirement plan isn't coming yet.
Are you playing Minnie Mouse events?
Maybe now he'll start giving a fuck about non-slam tennis.
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