Listing Roger Federer's 10 major records at the ATP Finals
During the course of his illustrious career, Roger Federer has conquered many records and peaks. Federer is the all-time Grand Slam title leader with 20 titles, and is the only player in the history of the Open Era to win a century of matches at a Grand Slam tournament or for that matter at any tournament (101 at Wimbledon).
The only player other than Jimmy Connors (109-54) to have played over 150 finals and captured 100 titles (103-54), Federer has captured 6 or more titles at 7 different tournaments - 10 each at Halle and Basel, 8 each at Wimbledon and Dubai, 7 at Cincinnati and 6 each at the Australian Open and the ATP Finals.
Like at most tournaments contested by Federer, the Swiss maestro has a plethora of stand-alone records at the season-ending ATP Finals. Let us have a look at the major ones.
#1 Most appearances
Federer's appearance at the 2019 ATP Finals would be his 17th at the ATP Finals (2002-2015, 2017-19). The next best mark of most appearances at the tournament belongs to American Andre Agassi (13).
#2 Most consecutive appearances
Federer made 14 consecutive appearances at the ATP Finals since his tournament debut in 2002. That is a stand-alone mark better than the next highest number of appearances in the tournament (Andre Agassi - 17).
Ivan Lendl's 12 consecutive appearances at the ATP Finals from 1980-1991 is the next best mark behind Federer's.
#3 Most matches
Federer's 72 matches at the ATP Finals during the period 2002 to 2018 is the most by any player at the tournament. The next best tally of most matches played at the tournament belongs to the trio of Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker and Pete Sampras, who have played 49 matches apiece.
#4 Most wins
Federer's 57 match wins at the ATP Finals is miles ahead of the next best mark of 39 which belongs to Ivan Lendl (1980-91). Only 3 other players - Boris Becker (36), Pete Sampras (35) and Novak Djokovic (35) - have managed more than 30 match wins at the ATP Finals.
#5 Most group-stage wins
Federer's 57 wins at the ATP Finals comprises of 41 group-stage wins, 10 semifinal wins, and 6 wins in finals. The Swiss maestro's number of group-stage wins itself is more than the next best tally of wins by any player at the tournament (Ivan Lendl - 39).
#6 Most perfect group stage campaigns
During his 16 previous appearances at the ATP Finals, Federer has navigated the group-stage of the tournament without dropping a match on 10 occasions. Only twice has Federer exited the tournament after a perfect group-stage campaign (2002, 2017), while he has reached the title match on 8 occasions (won-5, lost-3).
The next highest number of 3/3 group-stage campaigns belongs to Novak Djokovic, who has done so on 5 occasions (lost in the final in 2016 and 2018, won the tournament in 2012-14).
#7 Most finals
Federer has made the title round on 10 occasions in 16 previous appearances at the season-ending event. Federer's 10th final in 2015 (lost to Djokovic) broke a tie with Ivan Lendl (5 wins and 4 losses in finals) for most finals at the tournament.
#8 Most titles
Federer's 6 titles at the ATP Finals is the most by any player in the history of the tournament. The trio of Ivan Lendl (1981-82, 1985-87), Pete Sampras (1991, 1994, 1996-97, 1999) and Novak Djokovic (2008, 2012-15) have won the season-ending tournament on 5 occasions apiece.
#9 Oldest player to win the tournament
The 30-year-old Federer's triumph at the 2011 ATP Finals made the Swiss maestro the oldest winner at the ATP Finals, beating the record set by 29-year-old Romanian Ilie Năstase in 1975. In 2016, 29-year-old Andy Murray also downed the mark set by Năstase but fell short of breaking Federer's record.
#10 Only player to win the tournament in his 20s and 30s
Federer is the only other player to win the ATP Finals in his 20s (5 times - 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010) and once in his 30s (2011). This makes him the only player in tournament history to do so.