Roger Federer, the world no.2 and the Australian Open champion announced that he will make an appearance next week at the 2018 ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament (also known as the Rotterdam Open). The Swiss is a two-time champion at the event, having won there in 2005 and 2012.
The current world no. 1 Rafael Nadal has a 155-point lead over Federer and is not going to play at all next week, resting a thigh injury that forced him to retire in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Australian Open. Therefore, the Swiss has to reach the semifinals in order to get 180 points and surpass the Spaniard.
Federer has a big chance at becoming the oldest world no.1. The record is currently held by Andre Agassi. The 8th-time Grand Slam Champion’s last day at the top spot of the rankings happened when he was over 33 years old. Federer holds a great chance to beat that record by over three years. The Swiss was the highest ranked tennis player in the world for 302 weeks but his last appearance at the top was back in October 2012.
Federer taking a late wildcard into Rotterdam in a surprise attempt to time trial to the #1 ranking is the true meaning of sabr.
Roger Federer takes a wild card into Rotterdam. A run to the semifinals there could make him oldest ATP #1 ever.
He's just 155 points behind current #1 Nadal (who will have 300 points to defend soon in Acapulco).