He went into the game knowing it was meant for him to make history by joining other stars who have broken records and gotten their names in the books of history and he lived to the expectations.
Roger Federer has won his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Tennis Championships 6,600 days after winning his first in Milan.
The 37year old Swiss a 20time Grand Slam champion beat Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4.Federer’s first ATP title came at the Milan Indoors on 4 February, 2001, when he beat Frenchman Julien Boutter.
“It is an absolute dream come true right now,” said Federer, who is world number four.
He is just the second man, after American Jimmy Connors in 1983, to reach the landmark.
“I’m delighted. It’s great to win my eighth here in Dubai and in combination with my 100th singles title,” he added.”To win in Marseille and then come here was difficult for Stefanos.
“I don’t know if Stefanos was born when I won my first title (he was, in August 1998). It’s a privilege [to play against possible future champions] because I’ll be watching them on the TV. It was a treat to play Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. I’m sure Stefanos will have a wonderful career.
“Tennis is in good hands regardless if I’m there or not.”
Federer broke Tsitsipas, 20, in the first game of the match before saving two break points at 5-4 to see out the first set.
The Greek who will break into the world top 10 for the first time held his nerve in the second set until 4-4, before Federer broke his serve once again to wrap up the final in 69 minutes.
World number 11 Tsitsipas was Federer’s 50th different final opponent and the 25th different nationality.
It was only the second time the pair had met, with Tsitsipas beating Federer in four sets in the Australian Open last 16 in January.
Federer will have to win 10 more titles to beat Connors’ men’s record of 109, while Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record having won 167 women’s singles crowns during her career.