From The Sunday Times
February 04, 2007
'Roger should play with a wooden racket. It brings the skill out’
Rod Laver knows what it takes to win the Grand Slam and believes this will be the year Roger Federer equals the feat
Barry Flatman
He still answers to the nickname of Rocket more than half a century after it was first disparagingly given to him. However, Rod Laver is not fond of the pyrotechnic wonders that will be launched in celebration should Roger Federer emulate him in completing the Grand Slam. The two men, arguably the finest exponents of men’s tennis the world has seen, have much in common, not least a desire for the quiet life. The fireworks, which have become a tradition at the US Open whenever something special happens, are anathema to the pair.
New York has never been Laver’s favourite place, even though Forest Hills, the long-abandoned home of the year’s final Grand Slam event, was twice the setting for him being hailed the ultimate champion. He does not like to travel, and is content to stay at home as a television spectator in Carlsbad, California. Nevertheless, Sunday, September 9, is already pencilled in his diary: he will take a seat in the president’s box to witness the men’s final because he believes this is the year. Laver is convinced that Federer will add the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles to the Australian Open crown he won a week ago and become only the third man in history to achieve the Grand Slam (the other was the late Don Budge).
“Records are there to be equalled and broken,” said the man whose Grand Slams in the amateur days of 1962 and in 1969 after tennis went open are revered as the sport’s greatest accomplishments. “If Roger could pull it off — and he has every chance — I intend to be one of the first people shaking his hand. That would make me extremely proud.”
There is empathy between the two. The great Australian’s presence on the victory podium at Melbourne Park in 2006 triggered a flood of tears from Federer. They met again 10 days ago in the locker room after a performance that most believe was Federer’s finest, the 6-4 6-0 6-2 semi-final annihilation of Andy Roddick. Laver emerged to insist that Federer had a great chance of being the best ever. He said the world No 1 has too many shots, too much talent and that it is hardly fair that one person has such capabilities.
“Roger didn’t make any errors. The sustained effort he put in was unbelievable. He had Roddick simply shaking his head. The poor guy was thinking, ‘That wasn’t a bad shot I just played, and he half-volleyed it from the baseline for a clean winner’. He made every shot there is in the game. It was an amazing performance,” Laver said.
“In the locker room afterwards I told Roger he just could not miss. He did not have to say anything. His reaction was a questioning look that almost suggested he was asking how he could play that well and not make any mistakes. At times like that you don’t give your opponent much thought. You just wonder, ‘How long will this last?’ Having spells like that are why you play.”
Laver was home in California by the time Federer scored his seventh consecutive straight-sets victory by beating Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez to take his major title collection to 10.
“Roger is my type of guy,” said the 68-year-old. “I feel at ease with him when we sit and talk. He’s a nice quiet individual. He’s maturing every year, in fact every week, and just enjoys the sport. It’s clear he loves the life and is prepared to work hard, not just to maintain his standard but to improve his level. He is so good, he could begin to think he’s above everyone else, but he views himself as part of this great sport, and that’s something I respect.
“Do I see anything of myself in him? I’m a lefty and he’s a righty. But he plays the game in the style I like to see it played, using that lovely one-handed backhand that enables him to have such a variety of shots. It’s not easy to play, which is why so few players use it. But it gives you the ability to invent shots. It’s the way the game was meant to be played, although there have been many great double-handers, such as Connors and Borg. But when you study the way Roger plays, it seems effortless. Plus he goes about his business in the way I tried to do.”
Concentration was always paramount in the Laver game and he respects that quality in Federer. He had no time for opponents he referred to as “hot dogs”, such as Pancho Gonzales and Ilie Nastase. “Nasty was good, but you’d see him throw those tantrums. That was bush league for me. Concentration comes with maturity. If a linesman calls a ball out and you know it’s good, what can you do? Forget it and get on with the next point. There was nothing mental with me. I did what I did by physically beating an opponent. Return everything and never give him a shot he likes. Don’t let the other guy know how you are feeling. That’s the way Roger is. He can sustain any opponent’s best play. He can stay with them, then move ahead. It was there in the final. The first set was close, but Roger stood firm and when he got the upper hand, he pulled away.”
Laver refuses to speculate on how a hypothetical match between him and Federer would unfold, maintaining that the two of them came from different phases of the sport’s evolution. In addition, the four majors are played on different surfaces, whereas Laver’s Grand Slams were achieved on three grass courts and one clay. “I don’t know if that made it easier or more difficult,” said Laver, who referred to the New York lawns of Forest Hills as “a bloody cow pasture”. When he completed his second Grand Slam there in 1969, the court was so damp that a helicopter was requisitioned in an attempt to dry the surface and spiked shoes became a necessity.
“Nowadays the conditions are perfect. I’ve never played on the Rebound Ace they have at Melbourne, so it’s hard to judge, but some of the guys say it gets sticky. The hard courts in the States tax your body, and grass was a little easier in that respect, but now you can run down more shots.”
Laver’s was the age of the wooden racket. He rues the advance in technology. He blames metal rackets and today’s composite frames for the virtual extinction of serve-and-volley tactics. “You look at Roddick and wonder how they can play with a racket that allows you to serve the ball at almost 150mph,” he said. “We couldn’t generate the power these guys have, but they can’t play the chips and slices. It would be a great thrill to see Federer walk out on court and play with a wooden racket. He has the skill and touch. It would be interesting to see how he does.”