On This Day

On This Day 20 Years Ago: Roger Federer rises to No. 1 on the ATP rankings for the first time

It came after a 12-month period that saw him win 80 matches and eight titles, including his first two majors.

Published Feb 02, 2024

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He had already clinched it a few days earlier, but on February 2nd, 2004, exactly 20 years ago to this day, Roger Federer ascended to No. 1 on the ATP rankings for the first time.

The 12-month period that led him to No. 1 was incredible—he won 80 matches and eight titles, including his first two majors at Wimbledon and the Australian Open, as well as the ATP Finals.

It was Federer’s semifinal victory at the 2004 Australian Open, over Juan Carlos Ferrero, that would clinch his rise to the top spot the Monday after the tournament—but he went on to win the title anyway, too, defeating Marat Safin in straight sets in the final.

Federer clinched his rise to No. 1 with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 semifinal victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero at the 2004 Australian Open, before defeating Marat Safin in the final, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-2.

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He was asked after his semifinal win if he was relieved to finally reach No. 1, after having come close in the latter half of 2003.

“Relief for me was Wimbledon,” he said. “No. 1, it’s something I’ve been close to the last few months. I could never take my chance. I tried everything at the Masters but, you know, wasn’t good enough. But I put myself in a good spot for the Australian Open.

“I’m happy to have had a great start now to the season, and to finally be No. 1. And it does make me feel really strange.”

And after a 2003 season that saw the ATP No. 1 ranking change hands five times between four different players, Federer was also asked if he thought it would shift around in 2004, too.

“I hope not. I don’t hope it’s going to change so quickly,” he said. “Just getting used to the situation. We’ll see how I handle it.”

Not only did Federer end up staying at No. 1 the entire rest of the year in 2004, but he stayed there the entire year in 2005… and 2006… and 2007... and for more than half of 2008, before Rafael Nadal finally took over on August 18th, 2008.

Federer's 237 straight weeks at No. 1 between February 2nd, 2004 and August 17th, 2008 is the longest consecutive streak of weeks at No. 1 in either ATP or WTA rankings history.

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Federer’s 237-week reign at No. 1 is still the longest consecutive streak at No. 1 in either ATP or WTA rankings history.

LONGEST CONSECUTIVE REIGNS AT NO. 1 (ATP or WTA rankings history, since 1973 and 1975):
237 weeks: Roger Federer [2004-2008]
186 weeks: Steffi Graf [1987-1991]
186 weeks: Serena Williams [2013-2016]
160 weeks: Jimmy Connors [1974-1977]
157 weeks: Ivan Lendl [1985-1988]
156 weeks: Martina Navratilova [1982-1985]
122 weeks: Novak Djokovic [2014-2016]
114 weeks: Ashleigh Barty [2019-2022]
113 weeks: Chris Evert [1976-1978]
102 weeks: Pete Sampras [1996-1998]

In terms of total career weeks at No. 1 in ATP or WTA rankings history, Federer ranks fifth with 310, after Djokovic (410 and counting), Graf (377), Navratilova (332) and Serena (319).

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