Federer: I am not the greatest
Federer close to Grand Slam record
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Thursday, 29, Jan 2009 07:32
Australian Open finalist Roger Federer has played down suggestions that he is the greatest player the game has ever seen.
The Swiss maestro is edging closer to equalling Pete Sampras' all-time record of 14 Grand Slam titles after he easily beat American Andy Roddick 6-2 7-5 7-5 to reach the final of the first major of the year.
Federer will have to overcome either Fernando Verdasco or his old nemesis Rafael Nadal in the final if he is to equal Sampras' record. But even if Federer was to do it, he is still unsure of where he ranks when it comes to the best players to have ever lifted a racquet.
"We'll probably never quite know who was the greatest of all time in tennis," said Federer. "Of course, if somebody goes off and wins 35 grand slams then you made your point as a player.
"Yeah, I mean, 14 is more the new generation, the Open era, I could maybe become the greatest of all time of that era, but never of all time. I'm very well aware of that."
Federer paid tribute to the greats of yesteryear like Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall who fought to make tennis a professional sport and they themselves became professionals and as a result missed out on playing a number of Grand Slams when the authorities decided to keep the sport amateur.
"That's why I always said I'm one of the players who's most thankful to them of what they've done for us. Look where prize money is today and the great sites we have. That's all thanks to them for not playing for a lot of money and missing out on 20 grand slams."
As for the final of the Australian Open, Federer acknowledged that he felt Nadal was still "the best player in the world" and that he would "love" to play the world number one in the final.