Tennis: More to come from Swiss ace

Tennis legend Rod Laver may have said it best about Roger Federer: "The best way to beat him would be to hit him over the head with a racquet."

While Rafael Nadal might argue with that, the quote did come to mind as Robin Soderling put his final forehand into the net at Roland Garros last week.

Federer dropped his knees into the clay and his head into his hands. He'd completed a record-equalling 14 Grand Slam titles, joint with Pete Sampras, and become just the sixth man to compile each of the four majors over the course of a career.

It's possible to drone on about Federer's numbers until your head resembles a Nasa scientist's white board, but let's save that for a quiz night.

Instead we talked to people who walked in the same rarefied atmosphere as Federer - and gained some insight from Federer's father, Robert.

The now 70-year-old Rod Laver is the only player to win two calendar year grand slams, once as an amateur in 1962 and again as a professional in 1969. He seems a sound starting point in our investigation.

"In the French Open final, Roger probably concentrated better than I've ever seen. His ground strokes were on the mark and his serve helped him win a lot of cheap points.

"His opponent was maybe tired or in awe of the situation but Roger played some of his best tennis in a while. He kept the ball deep, played long rallies, ran down a lot of shots and slipped a new forehand and backhand drop shot into his repertoire."

Fellow Australian Roy Emerson has also followed Federer's fortunes closely. He's the only career grand slammer in both men's singles and doubles.

The 72 year-old held the grand slam record with 12 singles titles, albeit in the amateur era, until Sampras took it over. He says Federer has eased a burden.

"Now he's a true champion. He wanted to win the French Open so badly that it put extra pressure on him because people were saying he wasn't a complete player until that point. And of course when anyone's playing Roger they're playing well because they've got nothing to lose."

Federer's father, a chemist by trade who works out of Bottmingen near Basel in Switzerland, agrees.

"When you look back over the last three or four years he was 'smelling it'. He was so close for quite some time. The French Open was always on his mind; the top of his list to win.

"We just had a consolation this year with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal out early. All of a sudden Roger was the best rated player in the race and he saw he could win.

"But he worked hard for it, especially with those tough matches against Jose Acasuso, Tommy Haas and Juan Martin del Potro. It wasn't an easy waltz through."

Federer will now throw on his traditional v-neck white pullover and blazer as he challenges for a possible sixth Wimbledon crown. A tumultuous last week means he has opted out of his lead-up tournament in Halle, Germany.

Robert Federer says embracing English culture was a key in his son's rise to sporting renown.

"My wife Lynette is South African and she brought this anglophile sports approach into the family which I see as positive - it had a good influence on Roger. When he was young, we always went down to South Africa and became quite familiar with the culture. Roger had a rugby ball, he also played cricket with the boys - he knows his English sports, that's for sure."

But ask whether tennis saturates conversation around the family dinner table and Federer senior chuckles.

"Yes, there is a lot of talk about it. Lynette and I work at home for Roger managing the fan posts, the foundation stuff; all these things from all over the world make it to our table. But we do want to switch off the tennis occasionally and just be a normal family and talk about Roger and Mirka's (wife Miroslava Vavrinec) upcoming baby."

Father Federer says he and Lynette will be off to see their son compete at Wimbledon but he's not too fussed about going early on.

"I won't be there right at the start because it's too long sitting around for two weeks. We'll go at the end of the first week and stay until it's over."

Speaking of over, has Federer reached match point on whether he is the greatest player ever; and will it be decided by that first Sunday in July?

Laver is in little doubt about the result, where he will be in attendance as part of his Open era grand slam 40th anniversary.

"I think this particular championship will push him over the top. I'd be betting on him winning that's for sure. Nadal is tough, but he's got a sore knee. It may not be a big problem but it's something he's worrying about, so he mightn't get the practice he needs to win like last year."

Emerson agrees Nadal's form and fitness is the determining factor.

"It's the only thing holding him back. He relies on his mobility around the court to win. But I think Federer will do it, he's in good form, and grass suits his game so I think he'll break Sampras' record. He's also got more grand slams in him yet, don't worry."

Both past champions are reluctant to compare eras and muse about Federer's place in tennis history. It's a debate that can never be resolved, given the differences in technology and the blurring between amateur and professional ranks during their time. Still, you've got to throw it out there.

"Being the number one player in your era is one of the best things you can say about your game, a great attribute. Tennis is fortunate to have Roger for that reason alone," says a diplomatic Laver.

"It's a totally different game with the racquet technology. They've also moved a lot of the grass courts to hard courts. Roger should be able to compile more grand slams if he continues playing into his early 30s provided he can stay fit, focused and competitive week in, week out.

"He can't go having a holiday for six months though and expect to come back. Maybe years ago you could do that, but not now.

Emerson says it is hard to compare but Federer is "way up there" after his clay court triumph.

"It's still the same tournament in Paris but the style of play is different. They hit the ball so much harder from the baseline than we used to. Today's equipment also enables excessive top spin so it's incredible to watch."

So now the sporting world turns to what bookmakers tell us will be the afternoon of Sunday, July 5 in London postcode SW19.

Rod Laver might joke that the solution lies in connecting catgut with cranium but odds are the only thing going on Roger Federer's head will be a figurative crown.

The uncharted male territory of Grand Slam title number 15 is just seven victorious matches away.