World No. 5 Grigor Dimitrov claims reigning Australian Open champion Roger Federer is in a league of his own and the Swiss star’s main rival Rafael Nadal will never be able to match his lofty standards especially in his mid-thirties.
Federer, who won his record extending 20th Grand Slam in Australia at the end of January will be back in action on Wednesday when he will kick-start his campaign to win his 97th career title in Rotterdam. With Nadal missing from action because of a thigh injury, Federer has the chance to surpass him to become the oldest World No. 1 in tennis history this week.
And if Federer does manage to accomplish the astonishing feat, Dimitrov will not be surprised at all as the Bulgarian believes Federer is unique in every aspect of his game. According to the 26-year-old from Haskovo there is simply no one like Federer.
Federer trails Nadal by only 155 points and has to reach the semifinals at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Holland to go past Andre Agassi’s record of being the oldest men’s No. 1 in the sport. Agassi became World No. 1 at the age of 33 in 2003. Federer on the other hand will be the oldest top-ranked player (male or female), if he achieves the landmark in Rotterdam.
“He’s done so much for the game already and achieved so much already,” Dimitrov told ATP World Tour’s official website.
“To me, if it happens it’s just another thing he has done.
“I’m not even surprised anymore from his ability to show up at a tournament after not playing for so long, even though he has now.
“Just showing up at a tournament and winning, if he becomes No 1 again… basically he’s just trying to break his own records.
“That’s the best thing, he’s in a league of his own and that’s the reason he is where he is right now.”
Federer will begin his quest to become the oldest No. 1 in tennis history against Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans on Wednesday.
