Think You Missed Federer At His Peak? Think Again

It’s official. One of the greatest players of all-time has found a way to become even greater.

Roger Federer put up better serve numbers in 2017 than he has at any other time in his illustrious career. We thought the glory days of Federer existed primarily between 2003-2007, when he amassed 49 tour-level titles, and seemed from another world. But along came seven titles in 2017, and the Renaissance of Roger stunned us all.

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Federer’s combined first and second serve win percentages shows this season has no peer in those categories. This year, the Swiss won 79.7 per cent (2181/2734) of his first-serve points to be ranked fourth best on tour in this specific category. Federer failed to hit the 80 per cent mark from 1991-2014 with first serve points won, but he has now done it for three consecutive years.

Federer won 59.4 per cent (989/1664) of his second serve points in 2017, finishing second to Rafael Nadal, who won 61.2 per cent. Federer’s best winning season with this specific metric was 2012, when he won 60 per cent of his second serve points.

When you combine Federer’s first and second serve points won in a single season from 1999 to the present, 2017 sits at the top of the mountain. The Swiss right-hander also finished second on tour with service games won in 2017, at 91.3 per cent (684/749), slightly edged by John Isner, who won 92.9 per cent (747/804).

In many ways, Federer’s body of work in 2017 surpassed milestones that he established over a decade ago. Father Time has clearly yet to catch up to Federer, who at 36 years of age, is playing a smart schedule to maximise his prodigious talents and extend his career.

If you think you missed Federer at his peak, think again.

Roger Federer 1999-2017: 1st & 2nd Serve Points Won / Combined Total