Federer and the “party” ruined by Djokovic. The photo that “haunts” the Swiss even after retirement

Novak Djokovic has always been honest and publicly conveyed that he wants to take possession of all the records he can get close to, and so far he has done a “millions” job. In 2021, the Serbian became the longest-serving world leader in the history of men’s tennis, surpassing Roger Federer.

The Swiss, who is now 90 weeks behind Djokovic, occasionally becomes the subject of jokes on social media. In 2018, when he last held the world number one position, Federer is pictured cutting a cake that reads “311 weeks” and “number 1”.

At the time, the Swiss and everyone around him were convinced that Federer would reach the milestone of 311 weeks at the top of the world rankings, but this did not happen, with Roger stopping at 310 weeks. That year 2018, in May, Federer lost the first place in the ATP hierarchy, but three weeks later, on June 18, he regained his leading position.

He was convinced he would stay there because that week he was playing in Halle on grass, a tournament the Swiss has won 10 times in his career. The organizers were also convinced that Federer would march in Germany, which is why they prepared a huge cake for him on the occasion of that week with the number 311, which Roger never touched again.

Roger met the young Borna Coric in the finals of the Halle tournament and lost to the Croatian with a score of 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2. On Monday, after the final, Rafael Nadal dethroned the Swiss, but the supremacy was to be taken over by the super-champion Novak Djokovic, who reached 400 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings on November 20, 2023, with 409 being secured on the 1st place.

For Federer, the week’s premature celebration of number 311 at the top of the ATP remains one of the strangest moments. Djokovic’s fans periodically remember that photo and take it out of the mothballs every chance they get. That pose remains for the great Swiss champion a photo to forget.