One of Roger Federer’s records is being made to look even more impressive after the US Open finishes this year

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Roger Federer continues to set the standard for players even three years after his retirement.

Federer officially retired at the 2022 Laver Cup, ending his career with 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

There are only two ATP players who have won more than Federer, but Carlos Alcaraz has also been predicted to overtake him after his US Open victory.

While Alcaraz continues to win major titles, Federer’s 17-year record has continued following the outcome of the US Open final.

Roger Federer is still the last ATP player to defend the US Open

Sinner was looking to match a Federer record at the US Open this year, as he was the defending champion and was only one win away from winning the New York major for a second consecutive year.

Federer is a five-time US Open champion, and he is also the last man to defend the title in 2008.

Not only did the Swiss defend the US Open, but Federer remarkably won the title every year between 2004 and 2008.

The US Open has created many first-time Grand Slam champions since then including Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev.

Alcaraz, who has now returned to world number one, had won the US Open title before, but his maiden triumph came in 2022.

The Spaniard will be the next man to attempt to match Federer’s record and defend the US Open title.

Who is the most recent ATP player to defend the other Grand Slams?

While the men’s singles title at the US Open has not been defended for 17 years, the other three Grand Slam tournaments have seen much more recent title defences.

Two of those came this year, with Alcaraz beating Sinner to defend the Roland Garros title, while his rival won the Australian Open for a second consecutive year in January.

Although Alcaraz was beaten by Sinner at Wimbledon this year, he was able to win the grass court major in both 2023 and 2024.

While there is no definitive reason that a player has been unable to defend the New York major, it has been suggested that the US Open is the hardest Grand Slam to win before.

However, the women’s singles event at the US Open saw its first title defence since Serena Williams in 2014, after Aryna Sabalenka beat Amanda Anisimova in the final.