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Tennis

Laver: "Federer could be best ever"

25/01/2007

Tennis legend Rod Laver has backed Roger Federer to develop into the greatest player ever after watching the Swiss star demolish Andy Roddick in the semi-final of the Australian Open to secure a seventh consecutive final.

In the stadium bearing Laver's name, Federer took apart the in-form American 6-4 6-0 6-2, producing a dazzling display of tennis that left his opponent bemused.

The 25-year-old world number one already has nine Grad Slam titles to is name and is rapidly homing in on the career-record 14 set by Pete Sampras.

"He is a great player and has won a lot of grand slams and the way he is compiling the grand slam titles, I think he has got a great chance of being the best ever," Laver said.

"Roger has got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this: his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position, the way he moves around the court, you feel like he is barely touching the ground, and that is the sign of a great champion."

German Tommy Haas and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez will fight it out in the other semi-final for the dubious pleasure of standing between Federer and his third Melbourne title.

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