Roger Federer will mark 285 total weeks at No. 1 this week, and will be in a good position to break Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks during the grass court season if he can stay ahead of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the French Open.
Federer cannot increase his points total in Paris after winning the title last year, while Nadal's shock upset in the Round of 16 last year and Djokovic's third-round exit means they have plenty of room to move up.
According to the ATP, here is what Federer must do to remain No. 1 following the French Open:
- If Nadal wins the title, Federer must reach at least the semifinals.
- If Djokovic wins the title, Federer must reach at least the quarterfinals.
Federer said he would prize holding the record but did not feel a sense of urgency, adding that he was not aware of what he had to do to stay No. 1.
"It's one of the greatest records, but I'm not getting up every morning wondering what I should do," he said. "I didn't follow up very closely. It was at the beginning of this year in Australia when I had a bit more pressure... But now I'm not worried about this record any longer."
However, Federer's results last summer mean that he could find it difficult to reclaim the top spot for the next few months if he drops down. Last season, Federer won the French Open, Wimbledon and Cincinnati, as well as reaching the final of the U.S. Open and the quarterfinals of Montreal.