Editing Roger Federer (section)

====2018: 20th major title and oldest No. 1====
{{main|2018 Roger Federer tennis season}}

Federer started his season by winning his second [[2018 Hopman Cup|Hopman Cup]] title, this time partnering with [[Belinda Bencic]], after having won previously in 2001 with [[Martina Hingis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hopmancup.com/2018/01/kerber-zone-level-final/|title=Swiss precision lands third Hopman Cup title – Hopman Cup|date=6 January 2018|work=Hopman Cup|access-date=6 January 2018|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185547/https://hopmancup.com/2018/01/kerber-zone-level-final/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Swiss team won all its ties and Federer won every match he played, defeating the [[Germany at the Hopman Cup|German]] pair, [[Alexander Zverev]] and [[Angelique Kerber]], in the final 2–1.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Reuters|date=6 January 2018|title=Roger Federer in fine form as Switzerland seal third Hopman Cup victory|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/06/roger-federer-in-fine-form-as-switzerland-seal-third-hopman-cup|access-date=7 June 2020|issn=0029-7712|archive-date=14 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514210832/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/06/roger-federer-in-fine-form-as-switzerland-seal-third-hopman-cup|url-status=live}}</ref> At the [[2018 Australian Open – Men's singles|Australian Open]], Federer reached the final without dropping a set, and successfully defended his title beating Marin Čilić in a five-set final. It was Federer's sixth title at the [[Australian Open]], equaling the then record held by [[Roy Emerson]] and Novak Djokovic, which was surpassed by Djokovic in 2019. He also became the first man to win twenty [[List of Grand Slam men's singles champions|Grand Slam]] titles. It was also the first time since the 2008 US Open that Federer successfully defended a major title.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roger Federer wins sixth Australian Open and 20th Grand Slam title|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/42851064|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 February 2018|date=28 January 2018|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021238/https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/42851064|url-status=live}}</ref>

In mid-February, Federer defeated [[Grigor Dimitrov]] to win his third [[Rotterdam Open]] title and return to No. 1 in the ATP rankings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Federer, 36, to become oldest No. 1 ever in ATP rankings|url=http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/22468637/roger-federer-returns-top-atp-rankings-oldest-ever-36|publisher=ESPN|access-date=19 February 2018|date=16 February 2018|archive-date=30 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130154248/https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/22468637/roger-federer-returns-top-atp-rankings-oldest-ever-36|url-status=live}}</ref> At 36 years and 195 days of age, he became the oldest ATP world No. 1 by more than three years, a record that stood until Novak Djokovic broke the record in 2024. He also broke the ATP record for the longest span between two successive reigns at No. 1 at 5 years and 106 days.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roger Federer wins Rotterdam Open two days after becoming world No 1|work=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11256610/roger-federer-wins-rotterdam-open-two-days-after-becoming-world-no-1|access-date=19 February 2018|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219055137/http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11256610/roger-federer-wins-rotterdam-open-two-days-after-becoming-world-no-1|url-status=live}}</ref> In March, Federer entered the [[2018 BNP Paribas Open|Indian Wells Masters]], where he defeated [[Chung Hyeon]] in the semifinals for a career-best start to a season at 17–0, beating his previous best start at 16–0 in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/indian-wells-2018-saturday-federer-coric|title=Federer Outlasts Coric, Completes Best Start To A Season {{!}} ATP World Tour {{!}} Tennis|work=ATP World Tour|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=21 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321020217/http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/indian-wells-2018-saturday-federer-coric|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite holding three championship points, Federer was defeated by Juan Martín del Potro in a close three-set final. After a second-round exit to [[Thanasi Kokkinakis]] in [[2018 Miami Open|Miami]], Federer announced that he would miss the clay court season, including the French Open, for the second consecutive season, thus allowing Nadal to regain his No. 1 ranking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/43529911|title=Miami Open: Roger Federer to lose top spot and miss French Open after defeat|date=25 March 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-date=4 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304164459/https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/43529911|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June, Federer regained the No. 1 ranking at the [[2018 MercedesCup – Singles|Stuttgart Open]], which he won after defeating Milos Raonic in the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roger Federer beats Milos Raonic to win Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart |work=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11407773/roger-federer-beats-milos-raonic-to-win-mercedes-cup-in-stuttgart |access-date=19 June 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826124622/http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11407773/roger-federer-beats-milos-raonic-to-win-mercedes-cup-in-stuttgart |url-status=live }}</ref> However, he lost his No. 1 ranking for the last time in the following week when he failed to defend his [[Halle Open]] title, losing in the final to Borna Ćorić in three sets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Borna Coric defeats Roger Federer in absorbing Gerry Weber Open final in Halle|work=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11414634/borna-coric-defeats-roger-federer-in-absorbing-gerry-weber-open-final-in-halle|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730153947/http://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/11414634/borna-coric-defeats-roger-federer-in-absorbing-gerry-weber-open-final-in-halle|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[2018 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|Wimbledon]], Federer was seeded first at a Grand Slam for the first time since the [[2012 US Open (tennis)|2012 US Open]], but he lost in the quarterfinals to [[Kevin Anderson (tennis)|Kevin Anderson]] in five sets, despite being two sets up and having a match point in the third.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/24069423/2018-wimbledon-roger-federer-squanders-huge-lead-kevin-anderson |title=Roger Federer squanders huge lead at Wimbledon |work=ESPN |date=11 July 2018 |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220011147/https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/24069423/2018-wimbledon-roger-federer-squanders-huge-lead-kevin-anderson |url-status=live }}</ref>

Federer next played in [[2018 Western & Southern Open – Men's singles|Cincinnati]], where he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic, who won a record Career Golden Masters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Djokovic clinches career golden Masters |url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Tennis/ATPTour/djokovic-beats-federer-to-win-in-cincinnati-20180820 |publisher=Sport24 |access-date=20 August 2018 |date=20 August 2018 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518121818/https://www.sport24.co.za/Tennis/ATPTour/djokovic-beats-federer-to-win-in-cincinnati-20180820 |url-status=live }}</ref> The loss ended Federer's run of 100 consecutive service holds and 14-match winning streak in Cincinnati. At the [[2018 US Open (tennis)|US Open]], Federer was upset by [[John Millman]] in the 4th round, citing extreme conditions of heat and humidity that took a toll on his body.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/australia-s-john-millman-victorious-against-roger-federer-at-us-open-20180904-p501ot.html|title=Australia's John Millman victorious against Roger Federer at US Open|date=4 September 2018|last=Barry|first=Jamie|access-date=4 September 2018|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|archive-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507145223/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/australia-s-john-millman-victorious-against-roger-federer-at-us-open-20180904-p501ot.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Federer then played at the [[2018 Laver Cup|Laver Cup]] where he successfully helped Team Europe defend their title, winning both his singles matches against Nick Kyrgios and John Isner.<ref>{{cite web|title=Laver Cup 2018 results: Team Europe WIN – Roger Federer and Zverev seal Chicago glory|url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1021028/Laver-Cup-2018-results-latest-scores-updates-Team-Europe-vs-Team-World-Federer-Djokovic|publisher=Express|access-date=14 October 2018|date=24 September 2018|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518130801/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1021028/Laver-Cup-2018-results-latest-scores-updates-Team-Europe-vs-Team-World-Federer-Djokovic|url-status=live}}</ref> He also paired up with Djokovic in doubles for the first time in his career, losing their match against Jack Sock and Kevin Anderson in three sets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/24755425/tennis-roger-federer-novak-djokovic-doubles-combo-work-progress |title=The Federer-Djokovic doubles combo a work in progress |work=ESPN |date=21 September 2018 |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220011146/https://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/story/_/id/24755425/tennis-roger-federer-novak-djokovic-doubles-combo-work-progress |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[2018 Swiss Indoors – Singles|Swiss Indoors]] in October, Federer defended his title with a straight-sets win over [[Marius Copil]] in the final, winning his 9th title at the event and his 99th career singles title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Roger Federer wins Swiss Indoors to claim 99th career ATP title |url=http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/25106836/roger-federer-wins-swiss-indoors-99th-career-atp-title |publisher=ESPN |access-date=28 October 2018 |date=28 October 2018 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413074301/http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/25106836/roger-federer-wins-swiss-indoors-99th-career-atp-title |url-status=live }}</ref> At the [[2018 Rolex Paris Masters|Paris Masters]], Federer lost in the semifinals to Djokovic. At the [[2018 ATP Finals|ATP Finals]], Federer lost in straight sets to Alexander Zverev in the semifinal.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zverev Beats Federer To Reach Final In London {{!}} ATP Tour {{!}} Tennis|url=http://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-zverev-nitto-atp-finals-2018-saturday-atp|access-date=7 June 2020|website=ATP Tour|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607164428/https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-zverev-nitto-atp-finals-2018-saturday-atp|url-status=live}}</ref>