Itinarak ni Roger Federer ang kanyang pangalan sa kasaysayan ng tennis matapos maging ikalawang netter na nakakuha ng 100 kampeonato.
Sa Dubai Championship final, tinumba ng 37-anyos na Swiso si Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-4, 6-4, para iuwi ang kanyang saktong ika-100 titulo, pangwalo naman sa nasabing torneo.
Sunod sa listahan ni Federer, ang record 109 championships ni Jimmy Connors na naitatak noon pang dekada 90s’.
“A lot of people always ask me about, ‘Are you going to go for 109?’” saad ng record holder na may 20 grand slam.
“To answer the question is not easy. Winning 5 matches in 6 days or 5 matches in 5 days, it takes a different type of fitness. You can play a great tournament, play a brutal semi, you get unlucky sometimes with the schedule, whatever it may be,” tugon ng tenista.
Kaya saad ni Federer, kakailanganin ng pambihirang kondisyon para maabot pa nito ang feat na ipininta ni Connors.
“That’s why you have to be fit on many fronts: mentally, physically; you have to be able to beat different types of players: beat them all on successive days.”
Si Connors naman, binati ang kanyang tanging kasama sa 100th title club, sinabi na matagal na umano siyang mag-isa sa prestihiyosong accomplishment.
“Welcome to the ‘Triple Digit’ tournament victory club @rogerfederer — I’ve been a bit lonely – glad to have the company,” tweet ni Connors.