Basel (Switzerland): Roger Federer has been the world's top-ranked player for 1,000 days.
The way he's playing now, he could easily stay that way for another thousand.
"I'm really happy with my game," Federer said on Sunday after trouncing Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (3) to win the Swiss Indoors, his fourth title in a row and 11th of the year.
Federer first took over the top ranking in February 2, 2004, exactly 1,000 days ago, and the Swiss has won 24 straight matches, losing only one set in his last 12.
"It is indeed magnificent," he said of winning the tournament where he once worked as a ball boy.
And there is no other adjective to describe Federer's play as he closes in on a number of records.
Federer, who had failed to win his hometown tournament in six previous attempts, already has become the first player in the Open era to win 10 titles for three straight years.
Only Ivan Lendl (157) and Jimmy Connors (160) have bettered Federer's record (143 weeks).
That record looks likely to fall next year, when he also could overtake some of tennis' greats on the all-time win list. Sunday's victory was the 44th title of his career, tying him for 11th in ATP tour history with Thomas Muster.
The question is not whether, but how soon, he will catch Rod Laver (47) and Boris Becker (49).
"It's a great situation I'm in right now," Federer said. "It's so easy to stay motivated. I feel like every time I enter an event it's because I want to play."
Federer improved to 87-5 this season. Over the last three years, during which he has won eight of the 12 Grand Slams, he has amassed a 242-15 record.
Federer said he would soon decide if he'll compete in next week's Paris Masters. If he skips that event, he would not play until next month's Masters Cup in Shanghai - a scenario many of the top contenders are probably hoping for.
"He's one of the best players in history," Gonzalez said after the straight-set loss to Federer, his second in as many weeks. "It's really good for the game; not really good for us."
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