ATP Tour

On This Day: Federer begins final stint at No. 1 in 2018

One day after claiming the 98th tour-level title of his career in Stuttgart, Roger Federer returned to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings for the sixth and final stint of his career on 18 June 2018. In doing so, the Swiss broke his own record to become the oldest World No. 1 at the age of 36 years and 10 months — a mark that has since been passed by Novak Djokovic.

"Getting to No. 1 and enjoying it right here at 36, almost 37 years old, is an absolute dream come true," Federer said after passing Andre Agassi to become the oldest No. 1 four months earlier. "I can't believe it.

"This one, because I'm a little bit older, is a little bit more special maybe, because there's just so much that has to go into it, so much has to be right for it to work out, and it did so. It's a very deep satisfaction," he added.

After starting the 2018 season by winning his second consecutive Australian Open title, Federer also triumphed in Rotterdam and reached the Indian Wells final before claiming the trophy and the No. 1 ranking in Stuttgart.

He enjoyed three stints at No. 1 that season, jockeying with Rafael Nadal for the top spot. His return to the summit was reward for a late-career renaissance; after winning just three ATP Masters 1000s and no majors from 2013-16, Federer won three Masters 1000s (Indian Wells, Miami, Shanghai) and two Slams (AO, Wimbledon) in 2017.

In February of 2018, Federer returned to the top of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time in more than five years, a record gap between No. 1 stints, and became the oldest No. 1. His final stay at the summit lasted just one week, from 18-24 June 2018. On 7 April 2024, Djokovic passed Federer’s mark to become the oldest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history.

Learn more about the ATP No. 1 Club.