Roger Federer breaks record for being #1

Newly-crowned Wimbledon champion Roger Federer did not play in a tournament last week but he still was able to make history.

The latest ATP rankings were released today and for the second week in a row, Federer was number one – his 287th week at the top overall.

This breaks a tie he was in with Pete Sampras who had the record for more than a decade.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion says he is “extremely proud and honored to have beaten Pete’s record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him.”

The Swiss star will enter the Olympics next week as the world’s top-ranked player.

Sampras says “the hardest thing to do in sports is the ability to stay on top. Roger has been able to do so by great play and durability.”

Well done Roger!

Behind Federer and Sampras on the list are eight-time grand slam winners Ivan Lendl (270 weeks) and Jimmy Connors (268 weeks) while John McEnroe, a winner of seven major titles, was at the top for 170 weeks.