Federer gets 800 wins, chasing the greats
Check another box off Roger Federer's to-do list.
With a 6-3, 7-5 win over Juan Monaco on Friday in the Paris Masters quarterfinals, Federer became only the seventh man in the Open Era to reach 800 career victories. The Swiss has a chance to catch the next player on the list, Stefan Edberg (806), with a strong run through Bercy and the ATP World Tour Finals in London.
"I knew going in today that this could be something special, something I could remember,'' Federer told reporters after advancing to face Tomas Berdych in the semifinals. "So it's just another win, but it's a special one nevertheless, because 800 is definitely a big number.''
Federer improved to 800-186 all time, a winning percentage of .811. The milestone comes 13 years after his first career victory, against Guillaume Raoux in Toulouse, France, in September 1998, when Federer was a 17-year-old who had recently won the boys' Wimbledon title.
While he's still 442 wins shy of Jimmy Connors' record of 1,242 (Connors did play into his 40s, after all), there's no telling how far Federer can climb on the list. Would it really be a shock to see Federer still kicking tail into his late 30s? The 30-year-old Federer has been a marvel in his ability to withstand injury during a time when the game has been at its most grueling. That is as much a part of his legacy as his shotmaking and creativity on the court.
Here's a look back at some of the jaw-dropping moments of Federer's career. Tweeners, movement, precision -- Federer's got game. And you know he hit a good shot when even Mirka cracks a smile.
(Note: Better quality tweener collection here.)
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But there are some great names ahead of Federer on the list. Here's a look at the legends he is chasing.
6. Stefan Edberg- 806 wins
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5. Andre Agassi - 870
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4. John McEnroe - 875
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3. Guillermo Vilas - 923
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2. Ivan Lendl - 1,071
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1. Jimmy Connors - 1,242
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