After an emphatic start to 2017, few on the tour can doubt that Switzerland’s Roger Federer means business.
Returning to the tour from a six-month injury layoff in January, the 35-year-old has won more ATP points over the first four months of the season than anybody else. In January he defeated Rafael Nadal to clinch a record 18th major title at the Australian Open. Two months later, he struck gold in America by claiming back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami. He has won 19 out of 20 ATP matches played this season, suffering his sole defeat at the hands of Evgeny Donskoy at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
“It’s been a dream run on the court; off the court as well my body has reacted very well and I couldn’t be happier,” Federer said after his Miami win.
Federer’s resurgence has elevated him back up to fourth in the world rankings. He is still over 6000 points adrift from the world No.1 position, but a group of five former grand slam champions believes that the Swiss will one day return to the top spot.
Juan Carlos Ferrero
As a former Spanish player, many would expect Juan Carlos Ferrero to be tipping just one man for the top position – Rafael Nadal. Nevertheless, the diplomatic speaking Spaniard believes Federer’s triumph in Melbourne has place him in a strong position to contend for the top spot.
“Becoming number one in the ATP ranking is an incredible experience and I am pretty sure all the players that are currently in the top of the table, including Rafael Nadal and Federer, would seek to be the best.” He told ibtimes.co.uk.
“Probably, Nadal and Federer were looking for good vibrations, wanting to become competitive again, but after what they have achieved in the first part of the season, ATP’s number one is their goal, for sure.”
Ferrero has personal experience of what it is like to play an in-form Federer. During his career, he played the Swiss player 13 times, winning just three of those.
