Roger Federer drops out of world rankings for the first time in 25 years
- Joe Hewlett
- 13 July 2022
Federer admitted earlier this month that he hopes to play Wimbledon one more time before he retires but there are fears that he may never compete again.
Roger Federer has dropped outside the world's top 1000 in the ATP rankings for the first time in 25 years.
The Swiss legend has not played a competitive game in over 12 months with his last match coming at Wimbledon in 2021.
Federer reached the quarter-finals but tasted elimination to Hubert Hurkacz. Following the defeat, he had surgery on his knee and has not featured on the court since.
The 40-year-old made his name after winning the grass court tournament in 2003 before defeating Mark Philippoussis at the Australian Open in 2004 to become world number.
In the same year, Federer went on to win Wimbledon once again before adding a third Grand Slam in 2004 with victory at the US Open.
Federer has won a total of 103 ATP tournaments, including 20 Grand Slam titles and while he is behind Novak Djokovic (21) and Rafael Nadal (22), he is regarded as the greatest tennis player of all-time.
To add to this, Federer has been world number one for a total of 310 weeks - 237 of them were consecutive.
Federer admitted that he still dreams of giving it one more go.
"I also wish I could say goodbye in my own way and on a tennis court. That's why I give my all in my rehabilitation. Then let's be clear, my life is not going to collapse if I don't play a Grand Slam final again.
"My ambition is to see what I'm capable of one last time," he said last year.
"But it would be the ultimate dream to go back. And in fact, I still believe in it. I believe in these kinds of miracles."
"Tennis is part of, but not my entire identity. I want to be and remain successful, but that can also be done outside of sports," Federer added.
"I know a professional career can't last forever and that's OK."
