Federer becomes new world number one
Swiss tennis star, Roger Federer, is the new world number one after beating Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
The 2003 Wimbledon champion overpowered Ferrero in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 to book his place in Sunday’s final.
His victory over Ferrero makes him the 23rd player to take the ATP top spot since the computer ranking system was introduced in 1973.
“I love it,” said Federer, when asked of his new status as the world’s best player.
Federer was cheered on throughout the match by a group of vocal fans in T-shirts decorated with the Swiss flag.
“The Swiss are very neutral when it comes to other things,” commented Federer, “but when it comes to sports, they go wild.”
Federer had lost only two sets during his previous five encounters with Ferrero.
The stage is now set for Sunday’s final in Melbourne, which will see Federer pitted against Russia’s Marat Safin, who knocked out the four-time winner of the Australian Open, Andre Agassi.
The Swiss president, Joseph Deiss, sent a telegram to Federer after his semi-final victory to congratulate him on becoming world number one and to wish him luck for Sunday’s final.
Making waves
Considered the most talented player of his generation, Federer is regularly compared to the recently retired Pete Sampras.
The 22-year-old is the only Swiss to make waves on the men’s circuit, which is also dominated by players such as Safin, Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt and the 21-year-old American, Andy Roddick.
The Basel-born player – often criticised for his erratic on-court performance – first made a name for himself on the professional circuit in 1998 when he became the world junior number one.
One year later Federer made it into the top 100 for the first time, but he finally exploded on to the scene when he took the coveted Wimbledon title in 2003.
Two years before he lifted the famous grass court trophy, Federer made a name for himself when he defeated Sampras in the fourth round at the All England Club.
That victory was all the more impressive as the American had been unbeaten on the tournament’s famous grass court for 31 matches.
Masters series
Federer went on to win the 2002 Masters series in Hamburg, one of the nine major tournaments after the four Grand Slams.
On the Davis Cup circuit between 2001 and 2003, Federer enjoyed an incredible run of ten straight-set victories in a row, helping the Swiss team to qualifiy for the semi-finals last year.
Proof that Federer was fulfilling his potential – and that his Wimbledon victory was not just a momentary flash of brilliance – came when he won last November’s Masters tournament in Houston.
He has continued his winning streak over the past two weeks at the Australian Open, notching up victories over Americans Alex Bogomolov Jr and Jeff Morrison, Todd Reid and Lleyton Hewitt from Australia as well as Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
swissinfo
Federer has won $7.7 million in prize money.
He has won 11 singles titles and 6 doubles titles.
Before Friday he was ranked number two in the world.
Federer is to face Safin in the finals on Sunday.
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