Roger Federer has become the world's no.2 in the year-to-date ranking by the ATP Tour, moving past rival Rafael Nadal despite losing in the semifinal round of the US Open championships last Sunday in Flushing Meadows.
The Swiss Maestro garnered 720 points by reaching the semifinal of the US Open to move into second place in the ATP year-to-date ladder just behind world's no.1 Novak Djokovic, who also booked a spot in the ATP World Tour finals in London.
"Roger Federer has reached another semifinal at the US Open to be the new world no.2 in the Year to Date rankings. In fact, the actual YTD ranking see Djokovic as the no.1 ( 7,430pts), then Nadal (6,645 pts) and then Federer (6,160 pts)," according to Tennis Tonic.
"Reaching the semifinal at the Flushing Meadows will give (at least) 720pts to the Swiss. This means that if Roger loses against Cilic he will have 6,880pts and he will overtake Rafa (6,645 pts) that wasn't fit to play in New York."
The 33-year old Federer was expected to go all the way to his 18th Grand Slam title following another sensational campaign at the Rogers Cup and Cincinnati Masters.
After rough year of tennis last year, the Swiss reached the finals of an ATP 1000 event in back-to-back weeks, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 7-6 in Toronto and beating David Ferrer in a close three-set showdown 6-3,1-6,6-2 in Cincinnati.
At the US Open Championship, Federer lived up to the hype in the early rounds as he dominated younger opponents with his modified serve-and-volley approach. In the quarterfinal round, Gael Monfils pushed Federer to the limit by leading 2-0 before the Swiss stormed back with a rally of his own.
Despite another shortcoming in a major tournament, Federer is not losing hope he will someday hold another Grand Slam trophy.
"I'll give it a go again in Australia; I hope to be healthy there. I enjoy playing there. It's been one of my most consistent Slams. I hope to get another chance at it. I can't do more than try really hard, which I'm doing," Federer said in the post-match interview after losing for the first time in his career to eventual winner Marin Cilic.
Djokovic, who was also stunned in the semis by Japan’s Kei Nishikori, is still on top of the current ATP world rankings with 12, 290 points while world’s no.2 Nadal (8.670) and Federer (8,030) are just now separated by 640 points.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
