SHANGHAI (AP) Despite his recent drop off in play, Roger Federer is still the greatest player of his generation, as far as one former champion is concerned.
Rod Laver, the only tennis player to achieve the Grand Slam twice, said on Thursday at the Shanghai Masters that Federer's consistency over the six to eight years when he was at the top of the game is what sets him apart from contemporaries like Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
"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," Laver said.
But the Australian, who won the Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969 and is still the only man to have won it in the Open era, was quick to add he's not sure he can call Federer the greatest of all time.
"I've always said if you're the best in your era, that's as good as you really can do. You could take it back to 'Is it Fred Perry, is it Don Budge, is it myself that came along?'"