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Federer disappointed by year-end world ranking
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-26 15:49 BASEL, Switzerland - Roger Federer was "disappointed but not surprised" at losing the year-end world number one spot to rival Rafael Nadal, he said on Saturday.
Federer was knocked off the top of the rankings by the Spaniard in August and got confirmation from the ATP after his semi-final defeat by Andy Murray at last week's Madrid Masters that he would end the year in second place. The Swiss 13-time Grand Slam winner topped the year-end rankings from 2004 to 2007 during his record 237 consecutive weeks as world number one. "I knew really that the chance (to regain top spot) wasn't there because it was basically up to Rafa to decide if he made it or not," Federer told reporters after Saturday's semi-final win over Feliciano Lopez at his hometown tournament. "There was a bit of disappointment but I gave a good fight for almost five years so I'm proud of that, and I think Rafa deserves it this year because he's played consistently well. "He's won in Grand Slams, Masters Series and won big titles on all surfaces. He still has the Davis Cup final to come and there's also the Masters Cup in Shanghai. "If he can win there he will have won one of the big indoors so he's done a complete year." The Swiss said he hoped to regain the number one spot from Nadal in 2009 but said that for now he was happy not to be worrying about ranking points. WINNING TITLES "Obviously, I have points to defend here and in Shanghai but that's not what my life's about anymore. It's about winning titles and I'll have another chance on Sunday so I'm really excited about that. "Often you're on the tour and you go week by week and you're like, 'Oh my god, I've got quarter-final points to defend from last year', but now when I come into a Grand Slam I don't care if I have 1000 points to defend or 50. "I know the rankings are still an important factor but really it's about winning titles, being healthy and enjoying the tour. "I was still looking at the points when Rafa was really close behind me but it's been a while now that I've not been thinking about it." Although disappointing when judged against his previous seasons, Federer's year has nevertheless included a fifth US Open title, two further Grand Slam final appearances and an Olympic gold medal in doubles. On Sunday he will try to become the first player to win three titles in a row at the Basel tournament where he once worked as a ballboy and will then have at least one more chance this year to beat Nadal in Shanghai. Federer said on Saturday there was only a "fifty-fifty" chance of him playing next week's Masters Series in Paris. |
