Roger Federer reaches 287 weeks as the world #1

Yesterday Roger Federer made it to 287 total weeks as the #1 ranked player in the world. He surpasses Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks. He has now spent the most time as the #1 ranked player of anyone who has ever lived.

Here in Kuantan, we celebrated his achievement with a little lunch and toast to Federer's success and amazing career to date.

CLICK "READ MORE" BELOW

Roger Federer wins 7th Wimbledon title, and much more...

There was only one thing my blog post was going to focus on today. Roger Federer.

As most of you know, I'm a huge admirer of Roger Federer, the tennis player, the father, the man.

Yesterday at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Roger Federer beat Andy Murray to win his 7th Wimbledon title, equalling the feats of William Renshaw and Pete Sampras.

Not only has he successfully emerged victorious in 7 out of 8 Wimbledon finals, he has also clocked up his 17th major title, and returned to the #1 world ranking position.

In a couple of weeks time he will have surpassed Pete Sampras' record of 286 weeks as the #1 ranked player. There are not too many more records left for him to break!

It was a nervous start for Roger Federer on Centre Court against a determined Andy Murray, who was the first Briton to appear in a Wimbledon final for 74 years. The Swiss champ was a little out of sorts and dropped the first set 6-4.

But Federer barely sweats, and when he does, he sweats ice. There was no emotion on Federer's face, as he kept strong through a nervy 2nd set. Winners and errors were met with the same steely response. Federer broke vitally at the end of the set to level the match at 1 set each.

Andy Murray's emotions soon started getting the better of him, when a 19-minute service game saw Federer eventually break the Scot's serve once more. Murray was down on the ground three times, and Federer was beginning to accelerate.

Federer mixed his game up with sizzling forehands, glorious backhands, deft volleys at the net, and marvellous drop shots.

As Murray visibly began struggling in the 4th set, physically and mentally, the Swiss ace was gliding around the court like a gazelle, in glorious silence. At 30 years of age and a father of two, he looked amazingly fit, as though he could have been 20.

Andy Murray put in a great effort and had me worried for a set and a half, but he found it tough to keep up the high level of the first set. As he said himself, he's getting closer.

After taking the decisive 3rd set 6-3, Federer served out the match, taking the 4th set 6-4, and lifting the famous trophy for the 7th time.

And showing off the trophy at the balcony...

Roger Federer's twin daughters are almost 3 years old, and they were at Centre Court cheering on their remarkable father.

Roger Federer has now won Wimbledon 7 times, in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2012

He has amassed a staggering collection of 17 major titles

And who's to say he won't keep on winning more? He looks as fit and great as ever!

Now for Olympics gold Roger!!!

(All pictures are credited to, and were taken from this brilliant facebook page dedicated to Roger Federer)

The Last Word on Tennis for 2009

The sound of soles rapidly shuffling into position on the spotlight's surface of the O2 arena has now ceased. The dazzling blue glow has been dimmed for the last time, and a worthy winner has emerged from the group of eight.

London's O2 arena hosted a fantastic ATP Masters year-ending tournament which saw the top five players fall at various hurdles. Nikolay Davydenko outlasted them all to lift the trophy and ascend to sixth in the world rankings, jumping past absentee Andy Roddick.

Robin Soderling's run to the semi-finals saw him finish eighth in the rankings, a career high for the much-improved Swede. Another player who has come on leaps and bounds is finalist Juan Martin Del Potro. It was only January this year when he was given one of the biggest thrashings at the Australian Open by Roger Federer, 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. He ran Federer close in a five-set loss at the semis of the French before triumphing over the world number one to win his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

Rafael Nadal, plagued by numerous injuries and inconsistent form, finished the year on his biggest ever low, losing his last four matches.

Roger Federer has now been world number one for 258 weeks, 2 weeks shy of Pete Sampras' record of 260 weeks at the very top ranking. By Christmas Federer will be the outright leader. The Swiss ace won his first French Open crown, which equalled Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record and also completed his career Grand Slam. Then a month later at Wimbledon he overcame Andy Roddick in an epic final to stand alone as the all-time greatest player in history with 15 Grand Slam titles. He married long time girlfriend Mirka Vavrinec before welcoming twin daughters into his life. It has been a historic year for Roger Federer.

Finally, tennis will be losing two of its more famous players in Marat Safin and Fabrice Santoro. We will for sure miss Safin's petulance and anger issues as much as his superb tennis, which we must confess was sadly only rarely seen.

The Australian Open is up next in January 2010 and Roger Federer will be as hungry as ever to claim the title he so agonisingly lost this year.