After winning Wimbledon a week ago, Roger Federer has surpassed Pete Sampras on Monday to set the record for the most weeks at No.1 in the ATP rankings.

"It is really an amazing feeling for me to have regained the number one ranking on the ATP World Tour.

"I had set a goal with my team to try and get back to the top of the rankings, but I never thought with the depth in the game this year that I would have been able to get it back so quickly," Federer said. "I am extremely proud and honored to have beaten Pete's record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him."

Federer spent 237 consecutive weeks at No. 1 between February 2004 and August 2008 and overtook Novak Djokovic atop the rankings with his win at Wimbledon.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion also tied Sampras and William Renshaw's record of seven Wimbledon titles.

Sampras won 14 grand slam titles in a 14-year tour career.

"Great effort," Sampras said on the achievement. "The hardest thing to do in sports is the ability to stay on top. Roger has been able to do so by great play and durability."

The Swiss star will enter the Olympics next week as the world's top-ranked player following his win over Britain's Andy Murray in the Men's Final at Wimbledon.