The greatest ... or not

The highlight of the sports weekend was Roger Federer’s French Open triumph (though the final itself was anti-climactic against an overmatched, just-happy-to-be-there, no-name Swede). With Federer’s first French victory, he not only tied Pete Sampras’ mark of 14 major titles, but added his name to the handful of men to win all four majors. In tennis circles, Federer clearly holds the tiebreaker, as Sampras never got past the semis on the clay at Roland Garros.

But does the record automatically make Federer the “greatest player ever”? Most sports fans, quick to proclaim him so, never saw Rod Laver play. Obviously it is difficult to make comparisons across the span of almost a half century. Federer is a more impressive physical specimen than was the slight and diminutive Laver, though his prowess is obviously bolstered by modern technology and conditioning regimens. And Federer has conquered a far more expansive tennis world than the one Laver ruled. Still, back then, tennis was a much bigger deal in countries like Australia and the United States and attracted elite athletes who now gravitate to a wider range of sports.

And Laver’s accomplishments are unparalleled. In 1962 he became one of only two men to win the Grand Slam, all four majors in the same year. (Three women have pulled off that trick). Afterwards Laver turned pro and was thus ineligible for the major championships. But seven years later, when tennis launched its Open era and pros were welcomed back in the fold, Laver repeated his Grand Slam feat, making him the only player ever to capture the Slam twice.

Laver totaled 11 major titles in his career, three less than Federer. But with eight in 1962 and 1969 alone, it’s reasonable to assume that had he been eligible those six seasons in between, Laver would now hold the record — and quite possibly out of Federer’s reach. At the very least, we wouldn’t be crowning Federer “greatest ever” quite so blithely.

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