Federer not the best ever, says Laver

Rod Laver doesn't believe that Roger Federer is the greatest ever tennis player.
But that's because he doesn't believe in the title.
The Swiss maestro's capturing of the French Open title bolstered his already
considerable case to be viewed as the finest male player in the sport's history.
But Federer's claims to be the greatest must be stacked up alongside Laver.
The Queenslander is the only man to win two calendar-year Grand Slams and collected
11 major titles despite losing five years of eligibility in the prime of his career
for turning professional.
"I don't think you can compare eras," Laver told USA Today.
"You can be the dominant performer of your time, but I don't think anyone has the
title of best ever."
But eight-time major winner Ivan Lendl put an interesting slant on the argument.
"It's not Roger's fault that Laver didn't play five years," Lendl told The New York
Times.
"But I've been thinking about this for a long time and I think the only conclusion
you can reach right now is to split it.
"Federer in the modern era and Laver from 1968 and back.
"But if Roger wins the next two or three, well, maybe you give it to him."
Andre Agassi, who completed his career Slam at Roland Garros in 1999 and handed
Federer the trophy on Sunday in Paris, shared his thoughts on Laver.
"What Laver did is god-like," he said.
"To win all of them in the same year twice - how do you argue with that?"
Roy Emerson, winner of 12 major titles, said Federer's lofty status couldn't be denied.
"He's right there," Emerson told the New Jersey Newsroom.
"Yeah, I believe he is. Now that he's won a major on all surfaces, you can't really
argue with it.
"I mean, it's hard to say because you're comparing different eras with different
equipment, different styles, different conditions.
"But I think after (Sunday), he's certainly made a really good case. What he's done
is a great achievement."
But if there are any lingering questions over Federer's standing, there are none
about his class and deep affection for Laver and his feats.
The sensitive soul, who has a deep knowledge of the sport's history, wept
uncontrollably after being handed the Australian Open trophy by Laver in 2006.
"I shook his hand, gave him the trophy, he went to the microphone and couldn't get
any words out," Laver said of the emotional evening.
"Afterward, when we were inside, he gave me a hug and said, `I'm sorry, I couldn't
help it'.
"But I was touched by how much it meant to him, by how much of a historian he is,
how much he knows about the years that I played."
So it should be no surprise the humble right-hander isn't ready to anoint himself as
the greatest.
"I don't know if we'll ever know who was the greatest of all time, but I'm
definitely happy to be right up there, that's for sure," he said.