Rod Laver Says Roger Federer Is Greatest Ever!

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 11th October 2013

Rod Laver Says Roger Federer Is Greatest Ever!

epa03706645 Swiss tennis player Roger Federer returns the ball to Benoit Paire of France during their semi final match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 18 May 2013. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI |

Roger Federer might have suffered another defeat in Shanghai to underline the growing belief his career is now terminally in decline.

The Swiss may even not be certain of qualifying for this year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. But Rod Laver, arguably men’s tennis’ foremost living legend by virtue of twice winning the Grand Slam, didn’t hesitate in saying who he thought was the best of all time.

Laver, a guest of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, was actually sitting in the VIP seats at the Qi Zhong Stadium to watch the long-time world no.1’s latest demise as he went down 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 to France’s Gael Monfils. But the 75 year-old Australian was insistent: “When I look at Federer, with what he’s accomplished, against the competition that he’s accomplished it with, I’d have to say I would think that Roger is the greatest player.”

Of course Laver is not blind to Federer’s recent results that saw him lose in the second round of Wimbledon, before the quarterfinals US Open and in the third round at Shanghai. Nevertheless he took the view: “Federer is not at the end of his career, but he’s now finding it difficult to compete week in and week out, where before he had no trouble competing.

“However I think he’s certainly capable of winning maybe the Australian Open, and of course Wimbledon is something that he’s pretty involved with. I think he likes those two types of games.”

But Laver made the point such conjecture can only be a personal point of view and it would be wrong for one player to be declared ‘The Greatest of All Time’ because of differing technology, playing demands and court surfaces in various eras.

He made the point that he won 75% of the titles in his two all-conquering years playing on grass, and that wouldn’t be the case today. Plus rackets are a lot different now and he experienced better conditions than his predecessors.

“I’ve always said if you’re the best in your era, that’s as good as you really can do,” continued Laver. “You could take it back to ‘Is it Fred Perry, is it Don Budge, is it myself that came along?’”

But Laver remains firm in the belief that somebody will eventually emulate his feat of winning all four majors in on calendar year and thinks it might even happen before too long.

“I would say yes, it would be done again,” maintained the man who for the last five decades has made his home in California. “I don’t own this title. It was something that I was thrilled to have been able to accomplish it.

“When I look at the way Nadal plays on grass, clay and hard courts, especially this year, he’s obviously one that can win it. The only reason why Federer didn’t win a Grand Slam was because of Nadal on clay.”

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Gael Monfils, Rafael Nadal, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Shanhai, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wimbledon