Roger Federer won his 100th ATP singles title in Dubai (Picture: Getty)

Julien Boutter has no doubt been the answer to many a quiz question.

While Roger Federer has pipped giants of the game Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray to multiple titles, the relatively unknown Frenchman holds the dubious honour of being the first player the Swiss great defeated to lift a tour-level trophy.

While it was the first of just two finals of Boutter’s career, 18 years on from that fateful day in the now defunct Milan Indoors Federer has gone on to take his haul of titles into triple figures.

The 37-year-old is one of two men to achieve such a feat – the first being Jimmy Connors. It’s a rare and remarkable milestone to reach and one that rewards longevity at the highest level.


Most ATP titles (Open Era) 109 – Connors

100 – Federer

94 – Lendl

80 – Nadal

77 – McEnroe

74 – Laver

73 – Djokovic

64 – Borg

64 – Sampras

62 – Vilas

Tsitsipas was beaten (Picture: AP)

There are some rather satisfying numbers to accompany this latest extraordinary win.



Beaten finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas – who will make his top-10 debut on Monday – was the 50th different opponent Federer has beaten in a final, while the Greek was also the 25th nationality to stand between the Swiss and a trophy.

Federer did little to hide his desire to serve the 20-year-old a cold slice of revenge in Dubai, in what was their first meeting since Tsitsipas ended the defence of his Australian Open crown, and he duly delivered.

It was a somewhat fitting venue to hit a century – Dubai is his second home and boasts eight of his career triumphs – but it was not long ago that it looked inevitable he would secure No. 100 at Wimbledon – the tournament most synonymous with the 20-time Grand Slam champion.

20 of Federer’s titles have been Grand Slam wins (Picture: Getty)

On the verge of title No. 99 in Halle, Borna Coric denied Federer the opportunity to chase No. 100 at the All England Club. Perhaps it was fitting, too, that the Croatian was also swatted aside en route to this latest triumph.

The fact it took so long – relatively speaking, of course – to actually get over the line does raise doubts as to whether he will catch let alone surpass Connors’ record 109 Open Era titles.

With time quickly running down on Federer’s career clock and serious question marks over his chances of landing Grand Slam No. 21, the Swiss – who turns 38 in August – will have his work cut out to close the nine-title gap.

Connors – whose final title came aged 37 in Tel Aviv – admitted at last year’s US Open that he hopes Federer falls in his pursuit of his record, telling Amazon Prime: ‘Would I like 109 to live forever? Sure, why wouldn’t I? I’d be crazy not to – to say differently.’

Connors won 109 titles (Picture: Popperfoto/Getty Images)

It may well be nip and tuck, and it’s particularly difficult to call given uncertainty over how long the Swiss will continue.

Regardless of whether Federer gets there or not, the fact that a fifth of his 100-title haul has come at Grand Slam level will always see him ranked well above Connors – who mustered eight major titles during his career – in the pantheon of greats.

For a man as hungry for success as Federer, there’s no doubt the number 109 won’t be far from his thoughts as his career winds down.

But today is a day to step back and simply appreciate yet another extraordinary achievement from one of sport’s true everlasting greats.