Roger Federer’s 2018 campaign marked the last year in which he managed to get his hands on a Grand Slam title.

Following his resurgent 2017 season, the Swiss captured his 20th and final major crown at the 2018 Australian Open. Federer defeated Marin Cilic in the championship match at Melbourne Park that year to hoist the trophy, joining Steffi Graf, Serena Williams and Margaret Court on the exclusive list of players across men’s and women’s tennis history with 20 or more Grand Slam singles titles.

With his triumph, at the age of 36, Federer returned to world number one for the first time since 2012, a feat he did not think was ever on the cards.

Roger Federer’s reflection on his 2018 ATP season

After losing in the semifinals of the 2018 ATP Finals to Alexander Zverev, Federer was asked if he would have signed to have the year he went on to have before it started. He replied: “Yeah, I probably would have. I must tell you I’m very proud that at 37 I’m still so competitive and so happy playing tennis.

From that standpoint, I mean, as disappointed as I might be about this match, if I take a step back, I’m actually very happy about the season. It’s been an historic season in some ways. Got back to world number one. For me, that was a huge moment in my life, to be honest, in my career because I never thought I would get there again.

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Like you said, five years ago, where was I? I was probably fighting with back pain in 2013, not sure if I was ever going to figure that back pain out again because I had it for almost probably four or five months of the season. It really rocked my tennis for a bit.

Here I am having actually a pretty good season physically, as well, won another slam, got back to world number one. So, yes, you can see it as a very, very positive season. That’s probably how I will look back on it, as well, once on vacation.”

Federer’s reign as number one in 2018 lasted until April, though he did briefly clinch the top spot twice more later on the campaign.

Roger Federer was ‘a bit disappointed’ with his 2018 season

After winning the Australian Open in 2018, Federer missed Roland Garros before exiting Wimbledon in the quarterfinals and losing in the fourth round of the US Open. “I mean, Sampras once upon a time said, If you win a slam, it’s a good season,” said Federer.

So started great. I played super well in Australia again. So obviously I can’t wait to go back there in a couple of months. The second half of the season could have been better maybe. I also have high hopes to always do well.

“So I’m happy I gave myself opportunities again in that second half of the season. I maybe lost a couple too close matches that could have changed things around for me a little bit. I don’t know, Paris or Wimbledon, whatever happened.

“I’m here now. So I’m a little bit disappointed there because I believe I was close. Being close makes me believe I can keep going, I can win again. That’s uplifting in some ways. But because I know I could have won, I’m also disappointed because I aim high. From that standpoint, I’m a little bit disappointed now, which is normal.”

Federer won four tournaments in 2018: the Australian Open, the Rotterdam Open, the Stuttgart Open and the Basel Open.