Federer breaks Connors record

DUBAI – Roger Federer is known for his modesty and spending a record 161 consecutive weeks on top of the men’s rankings has done nothing to change that.

The 25-year-old overtook Jimmy Connors’s 160-week streak yesterday but was quick to heap praise on the American. “I’ve been looking forward to this day to come and I’m very excited,” Federer told reporters on the eve of the Dubai Open.”But he’s still got the record for most titles (109 to Federer’s 46) which I don’t think will ever be eclipsed.He’s one of the all-time great players.”He played for such a long time which allowed him to get so many titles, but to stay fit through all that time with his intensity and everything, it’s quite remarkable.”Although proud to have set one milestone, Federer is aware that other challenges still exist for him, including Pete Sampras’s benchmark of 286 non-consecutive weeks as world number one.”This record is definitely something that is going to stay for quite some time, so it’s a nice record to have and it’s very hard to beat I feel,” he said.”It’s not something you do overnight and even if I lose it eventually, I still think I’ll be very high in the record books and that’s very nice to see.Hopefully, I can (also) break the all-time number one record.”Despite the French Open being the only major title missing from his impressive portfolio, Federer was not about to change his priorities for the 2007 season.”For me it’s Wimbledon (that is my main focus),” said Federer.”I’m very proud to be the Wimbledon champion for a year.”I have a fear every year I come to Wimbledon I might lose it and walk around not being the Wimbledon champion, because it’s such an honour for me being a member and seeing how much they appreciate me and like to see me winning Wimbledon.”Although Federer admitted the French Open was not on top of his priority list, he acknowledged that all eyes will once again be on him when he walks through the gates at Roland Garros in May.With the Wimbledon, U.S Open and Australian Open titles already in his possession, the Swiss will be bidding to join American Don Budge and Australian Rod Laver as the only men to hold all four grand slam crowns at once.”It’s definitely one of the huge goals, especially going again like last year for the fourth grand slam in a row and then heading into Wimbledon trying to win my fifth,” he said.”It’s an exciting time ahead of me.”Even though it seems unlikely that any of his rivals could end his Wimbledon reign or his status as world number one anytime soon, Federer said he was mentally prepared should that happen.”The number one ranking, obviously that’s going to go eventually, same as the Wimbledon victory as well,” he said.”But it won’t be a huge blow because I’ll get motivation out of that to get it back.”Nampa-Reuters”I’ve been looking forward to this day to come and I’m very excited,” Federer told reporters on the eve of the Dubai Open.”But he’s still got the record for most titles (109 to Federer’s 46) which I don’t think will ever be eclipsed.He’s one of the all-time great players.”He played for such a long time which allowed him to get so many titles, but to stay fit through all that time with his intensity and everything, it’s quite remarkable.”Although proud to have set one milestone, Federer is aware that other challenges still exist for him, including Pete Sampras’s benchmark of 286 non-consecutive weeks as world number one.”This record is definitely something that is going to stay for quite some time, so it’s a nice record to have and it’s very hard to beat I feel,” he said.”It’s not something you do overnight and even if I lose it eventually, I still think I’ll be very high in the record books and that’s very nice to see.Hopefully, I can (also) break the all-time number one record.”Despite the French Open being the only major title missing from his impressive portfolio, Federer was not about to change his priorities for the 2007 season.”For me it’s Wimbledon (that is my main focus),” said Federer.”I’m very proud to be the Wimbledon champion for a year.”I have a fear every year I come to Wimbledon I might lose it and walk around not being the Wimbledon champion, because it’s such an honour for me being a member and seeing how much they appreciate me and like to see me winning Wimbledon.”Although Federer admitted the French Open was not on top of his priority list, he acknowledged that all eyes will once again be on him when he walks through the gates at Roland Garros in May.With the Wimbledon, U.S Open and Australian Open titles already in his possession, the Swiss will be bidding to join American Don Budge and Australian Rod Laver as the only men to hold all four grand slam crowns at once.”It’s definitely one of the huge goals, especially going again like last year for the fourth grand slam in a row and then heading into Wimbledon trying to win my fifth,” he said.”It’s an exciting time ahead of me.”Even though it seems unlikely that any of his rivals could end his Wimbledon reign or his status as world number one anytime soon, Federer said he was mentally prepared should that happen.”The number one ranking, obviously that’s going to go eventually, same as the Wimbledon victory as well,” he said.”But it won’t be a huge blow because I’ll get motivation out of that to get it back.”Nampa-Reuters