Roger Federer just continues to break one record after another.
The Swiss great ensured his hold on the world number one ranking would surpass a total of 300 weeks, after fighting past compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 7-6, 6-0 to enter the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters.
Federer needed to at least make the last-eight to stop any chances of Novak Djokovic taking the number one ranking from his grasp, and the 17-time Grand Slam champion did just that, but not before surviving a scare.
Federer was one set and 30-40 down at 4-4 in the second set, just five points away from an early exit, but the maestro held his nerve, as he always does, to clinch the second set tie break, before cruising past his good friend in the final set.
"I had my chances in the second set," a relieved Federer told reporters. "I was up a break. Then I think I was down breakpoint at one point at the end of the second set.
"Obviously that was like a match point. So I knew I had a chance going into the breaker.
"I thought we both played a pretty good breaker. Could have gone either way. Consider myself a little lucky. I never stopped believing, pushed till the end, then got off to a good start in the third set. Basically that was it.
"It was a tough match. He was the better player for basically two sets. It's great finding a way out that way, that's for sure."
Federer admitted to being extremely proud of completing 300 weeks as the top men's tennis player. "Yeah, I mean, look, it's obviously an amazing number," he said. "I never thought of something like this when I was a little kid, that's for sure.
"I was just hoping one day my dream was going to come true to play on the regular tour, play Wimbledon, maybe become world No. 1 at some stage.
"So here I am at 300 weeks. It's pretty incredible. Probably one of my biggest accomplishments. I'm very proud of that record, no doubt about it."
Federer became the world number one for the first time in his career, way back in Feb. 2 2004, something he still looks back at quite fondly. "I remember it very vividly," he added. "It's not one of those moments that happens and then you forget. It took me a lot of great performances to get there.
"I had an opportunity I think in the match against (Andy) Roddick in Montreal. Lost 7-6 in the semis there against him. It took me to win Wimbledon, the World Tour Finals, then basically get to the finals of the Australian Open. After beating (Juan Carlos) Ferrero in the semis, I knew I clinched it, but obviously I wanted to finish the tournament on a high note winning the Australian Open as well.
"That's what I was able to do then. But I remember after the semis how happy I was becoming world No. 1. It was for me back then sort of the ultimate accomplishment next to winning Wimbledon.
"That all happened in a span of nine months, which was so intense, huge relief in some ways, but big satisfaction.
"Here I am eight years later, even more. It's pretty special. Obviously I lost the world No. 1 ranking a few times, but I also stayed a long time once I got there. I always felt tennis was easier for me playing as world No. 1 than actually getting there."
