For over two decades, Roger Federer was one of the most dominant tennis players in the world, but this week has proven that all good things must come to an end.
For the first time in 25 years, Federer is not listed in the latest ATP rankings. The tennis legend had appeared in the singles rankings every week since he made his debut in September of 1997 when he was just 16 years old.
While Federer is no longer listed in the latest rankings, the Swiss player has dominated the world rankings throughout his career. The superstar spent 310 total weeks ranked No. 1 in the ATP Rankings during his career and holds the all-time record for the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 with 237.
Federer’s fall from the rankings is due primarily to injury struggles. He has not played since making last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinals. Since the rankings are based on a player’s results over the previous 52 weeks, Federer now has zero ranking points, removing him from the rankings entirely.
Federer’s injury struggles cost him another impressive streak earlier this year as he was absent from Wimbledon – a tournament he’s won a record eight times – for the first time since 1998.
Despite the injuries, the 40-year-old does currently plan to return to the court in October at a tournament in his home country of Switzerland. He also said last week that he hopes to play Wimbledon “one more time.”
[Fox News]
