Federer ties Connors's record

2007-02-18 18:48

Paris - Roger Federer will on Monday draw level with Jimmy Connors's record of 160 consecutive weeks as the world's number one tennis player.

The 10-time Grand Slam winner's reign at the top of the ATP rankings began on February 4, 2004 and such is his domination he's assured of staying out in front for months to come to smash Connors's benchmark set between 1974 and 1977.

And in the very probable event that he continues to outsmart his rivals, Federer, who competes in his second tournament of the season in Dubai next week, will have another target in his sights - namely the total number of weeks as the top player on the circuit.

He has four tennis greats ahead of him - one within easy reach, John McEnroe (170), then Connors (268), Ivan Lendl (270) and Pete Sampras (286).

There are other targets to aim at too - namely the first player to win 15 Grand Slams.

The 25-year-old Swiss winning machine said after his success in the Australian Open in January: "To beat or match records is good but it's never been a main goal."

But reflecting on emulating and soon passing Connors's record he added: "I think it's one of the most important records that I'll beat, perhaps even the most significant. I'm in a hurry to do it."

In the time that he's occupied the summit he's won 36 of his 50 tournaments, with nine Grand Slams out of 13 attempts.

Since 2004 his record stands at 254 victories with 15 defeats - a 94.4% success rate.

In that period he's been beaten by ten different players and only one - Rafael Nadal - has managed that feat twice, the king of clay overcoming Federer on six occasions.

But those triumphs against Federer haven't stopped Nadal, the world number two, of languishing some 3 000 points adrift of his arch rival in the rankings.

- AFP