Two seasons ago, after failing to defend his title at Roland Garros, Roger Federer lost the No. 1 South African Airways ATP Ranking to Rafael Nadal, falling one agonising week short of tying Pete Sampras' record mark of 286 weeks in top spot. Many tennis fans wondered if the Swiss would ever return to the pinnacle of the sport, and further doubts crept in as Novak Djokovic continued his dominant 2011 run to claim the Wimbledon title and become the new World No. 1.

tying one’s record：打平某人的记录

Federer, who turned 30 last year, showed he still had the game and desire to win, riding a 17-match win-streak to close the 2011 season. The run enabled the Swiss to set himself up for a potential rankings jump in 2012. After defeats in the Australian Open semi-finals and the Davis Cup World Group First Round, Federer quickly brushed aside the disappointments, winning three consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Dubai and Indian Wells to add valuable points to his ranking. At the top remained Djokovic, but the Serb had the tall order of defending a 41-0 season start from 2011.

win-streak：连胜

brush aside：漠视

While Djokovic produced consistent results, he retained just two of his seven titles heading into Wimbledon, setting up a three horse race for World No. 1 at the All England Club. After Nadal took an unexpected second-round loss to Lukas Rosol, Federer and Djokovic advanced to an anticipated semi-final showdown, during which Federer made his statement of the year, defeating Djokovic in four sets to reach his eighth final at the event and put fate in his own hands.

The Swiss superstar faced off against home favourite Andy Murray in the final, knowing a victory would propel him past Djokovic at the top. It wasn’t easy, as he lost the first set to an inspired Murray, but Federer battled back to win the high-quality contest for his 17th major trophy. The result saw Federer jump from World No. 3 to No. 1 and tie Sampras’ mark. A week later, Federer stood alone with 287 weeks, and ultimately extended his record to 302 weeks before Djokovic reclaimed top spot late in the year.

face off against：和…对抗

“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,” said Federer. “I am extremely proud and honoured to have beaten Pete's record as he was my childhood hero and I have always looked up to him.”

look up to：尊敬（look down upon 轻视）

【新闻快讯】本周ATP男子职业网球联合会评选2012年10大成就，费德勒的302周世界位列。瑞士天王在今年的温网中战胜本土选手穆雷，成功夺回世界宝座。费德勒自己接受采访时曾表示，自己年初时与团队定下目标争取夺回世界，只是没有想到一切实现的这么顺利。

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