Facts: Federer earns the first 12 ranking points
In August and September 1997, one of Switzerland’s top junior players, 16-year-old Roger Federer, took part in a four-week satellite tour of his home country. The youngster had already competed in six ITF tournaments, but despite winning one match in a qualifying draw at age 15, he still had no ATP points. His talent did not go unnoticed then, but neither did his temperament.
This time, the young Federer managed to maintain enough control to reach the semifinals twice, first in Noyes (lost to Italy’s Daniele Balducci 6-3, 6-2) and second in Bill (lost to Argentina’s Agustin Garrizio 4-6, 6-2, 6-1). These good results earned him his first 12 ATP points, reaching 803rd place in the world rankings for his first appearance. Twenty years later, he will be remembered for the ATP website.
I will never forget that moment and the excitement I felt after that satellite.
Roger Federer seeing his name in the ATP rankings for the first time
“The ATP Rankings are where it all starts for every player. It’s about getting your foot on the ladder and seeing your name on the computer rankings for the first time. I will never forget that moment and the excitement I felt after that satellite. It was the beginning of a long journey to the top for me.
“I think that’s the great thing about our sport. ranking provides a really accurate barometer of where you stand compared to your peers. The computer does not lie. It’s amazing to think that 20 years later I’m still in the game and still have a shot at year-end #1 in 2017. I never imagined I would have such longevity.”
The Swiss satellite round did not start well for the future star, who lost in the first round to his friend and roommate Yves Allegro (7-6, 4-6, 6-3). Although he was not the favorite on paper, many expected Federer to win the match, even the referee who went so far as to say that Allegro said it was “the last time he will beat Roger”.
If Federer were to win against his future partner, he would face Swiss veteran Severin Luthi, who would later become his coach. “Yves was still the favourite, but we all expected Roger to win. He eventually lost. (…) I would like to play with him. I only played him once in a club match, doubles. It would be a great thing because he was coming up and I was older with a little more experience. He was very dangerous.
Although everyone could see how talented Federer was, Luti, who defeated Allegro in the next round, admitted that he did not foresee his great destiny at the time. “I thought he was very talented and played great, but at the time it was hard for me to imagine that the Swiss would one day become world No. 1.” The rest is history.
What next? Federer is tearing up the history books
Two years later, on September 20, 1999, Federer set another milestone, breaking into the top 100 for the first time. In 2001, he won his first title in Milan, defeating Julien Buter (6-4, 6-7, 6-4) in the final, a victory that would propel him into the top 20. Roland Garros and: Wimbledonreaching the quarter-finals after a legendary win against the seven-time champion at the All England Club, Pete Sampras (7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5).
Two years later at Wimbledon, Federer won the first of his 20 Grand Slam titles (defeating Mark Philippoussis 7-6, 6-2, 7-6 in the final), and in 2004 he would become world No. 1 for the first time, before setting the record for the longest unbroken reign in tennis history (237).