Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has given his view on the developing ranking situation. Having defended his Australian Open crown, Roger Federer sits just 155 ATP points short of old rival and friend Rafael Nadal.
Speaking to Eurosport, Cash said: “I think there’s probably one last thing that he’d really like to do, that is to be the oldest world No 1. I know that for a fact that he wants to be the oldest No 1.”
Federer was last ranked World No.1 in October 2012. He has a good chance to do so as Nadal has a number of points to defend in February, whilst Federer has very few. Nadal reached the final in Acapulco, where he lost to Sam Querrey. However, Nadal’s participation is in doubt, as the Spaniard was forced to withdraw from the Australian semi-finals with injury.
Therefore, Federer could conceivably return to the World No.1 ranking for the first time in more than five years without playing in February. The Swiss legend is still reportedly considering whethe\\r to play in Dubai. He suffered a shock second round loss to Evgeny Donskoy at the event last year.
If Federer were to return to the World No.1 ranking, he would become the oldest man to reach that position. He would eclipse Andre Agassi in that regard. Agassi became No.1 in May 2002 aged 33.
Federer’s margin for returning to World No.1 may be quite small. Over March, he defends 2000 ATP points across Indian Wells and Miami respectively. Both events he won in 2017. Given it might be considered quite unlikely for him to repeat the feat, now seems to be the time if the Swiss wants to make a move.
