Roger Federer turns 37—and is a few days away from his tour return

Stories of the Open Era: Roger Federer

Wednesday is a very special day for a very special man in the tennis world, as Roger Federer celebrates his 37th birthday.

Born in Basel, Switzerland on August 8, 1981, Federer has put together an absolutely historic career, winning 20 Grand Slam titles (more than any other man in tennis history) and spending 310 career weeks as the No. 1-ranked player in the world (again, more than any other man in tennis history).

And as a 37-year-old, he’s closing in on more history. Ken Rosewall currently holds the record for oldest player to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era, male or female, by winning the 1972 Australian Open at 37 years and 62 days. Should he win the upcoming US Open, Federer will be about a month shy of that mark, but if he can win a third straight Australian Open next January, he’ll break Rosewall's record.

But before looking ahead to 2019, there’s still quite a bit of tennis left for Federer to play in 2018, including the Western & Southern Open, a Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati next week, where the Swiss will play his first event of the summer hard-court season.

Federer has withdrawn from Cincinnati in each of the last two years, in 2016 due to a knee injury and in 2017 with a back injury. But over his career, it’s been his best Masters 1000 tournament. He's won Cincinnati it seven times, in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Federer has a 42-8 career record there overall.

“In the very beginning of my career I used to either lose really early or then go deep. It was one of the other,” Federer said about Cincinnati after his most recent title in 2015. “Lately it’s been more on the very good side.

“I think the volunteers make a wonderful tournament with the tournament director, and it’s very fan friendly as well. I get in touch a lot with the fans. It’s just a nice venue. Great center court. Good atmosphere. Good court speed for me. There are just so many things for me to like about it.”

Tennis Channel will have full coverage of Federer’s return to action in Cincinnati next week, as well as his top rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, at the Rogers Cup in Toronto this week.

ATP Toronto

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev headline the Rogers Cup in Toronto. Watch live coverage from four courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, August 6th at 11:00 A.M.