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Roger Federer says death threats a distraction in Shanghai but he’s happy to be Number 1 again

It’s unfortunate that as world number one Roger Federer resumes play on the tennis tour this week in Shanghai, he does so under the cloud of an online death threat that has resulted in him requiring extra security.

“Obviously maybe it’s a little bit of a distraction, there’s no doubt about it,” Federer said at pre-tournament press conference. “But you have to be aware of what’s happening around you. But that is the case anyway anywhere I go today with my fame and all that stuff.”

Federer has been aware of the threat for more than a week but says what has made it more difficult for him is the fact that it became so public.

“So then obviously it came out in the press. That’s when things changed.” he said. “It became much more public, which I’m a bit disappointed about, that it did come out in the press. “It was something just very small on a website, nothing clear and concrete, people just debating. That it makes that big news is a bit surprising to me.”

But the threat was not all on Federer’s mind – his return to the top of the rankings was too. He ascended to the top spot, which he lost in 2010 to Rafael Nadal, after winning Wimbledon in July. It tied with with Pete Sampras as the player with the most weeks at number one – a record he now holds on his own after retaining the ranking through the US Open.

“It was much sweeter to get it back (after all that time) and that it came with the Wimbledon crown,” he said. “I tied with (Sampras) that week and in the following week I went ahead of him. It was very unique, perhaps one of the greatest accomplishments of my career.”

FILE UNDER: Tennis

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One Remark

  1. This is so san and scary for Roger and his family and brings back the horrible nut case and Monica Seles, I hope the Chinese police stay on top of this and catch the nutter and handle justice the way they usually do.

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