Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are among the all-time tennis greats, having both enjoyed unforgettable careers on the court.
Nadal claimed 22 Grand Slam titles during his career, which he brought to an end last year at the Davis Cup.
And Federer, who retired at the 2022 Laver Cup, secured 20 Grand Slam titles, behind only Nadal and the 24 of Novak Djokovic.
Federer was, however, the first man to secure 20 Grand Slam titles, a feat he achieved at the 2018 Australian Open.
Why Rod Laver claimed Roger Federer was better than Rafael Nadal in 2018
Federer won the 2018 Australian Open final against Marin Cilic, emerging victorious from a five-set thriller indoors.
Rod Laver Arena played host to the match, following which the man it was named after said: “I think Federer is the greatest player that has come along.
“We have got lots of great players. Look at Rafael Nadal with a record that says ‘I have just won 10 French Open titles’, and you can’t sort of push that under the mat.
“But I think Roger plays his greatest tennis on the biggest occasions, on any surface. He has stood the test of time.
“That’s probably the one thing that puts you in that category of the best ever. That’s one of the things that he has done.
“He loves the game, and everything he does around his life is somewhere related to all the great things he has done.”
Would Rafael Nadal be the undisputed GOAT if not for injuries?
Laver added: “It’s unusual to see a wonderful champion like him be able to win at the age of 36, after seven tough matches.
“You just marvel at his tenacity and his floating ability on the court. He just seems like he is floating all around the court. He is not running. That’s something else.”
If Rod Laver thought Roger Federer was better in 2018 or 2006-07
Federer’s 2018 Australian Open victory turned out to be his last Grand Slam success, with a Wimbledon final defeat to Novak Djokovic following in 2019.
It was a remarkable feat from the 36-year-old, who had completely dominated the Grand Slam calendar earlier in his career.
He won three of the four major tournaments in both 2006 and 2007, a feat he also accomplished in the 2004 season.
Discussing those two campaigns in 2006 and 2007, Laver said of Federer in 2018: “I would not say he is better but Roger is playing some of his best tennis.
“Not all the time maybe, but pretty close to all the time. He is playing smarter. You learn when we are playing an opponent or see him a lot.
“He sees weaknesses that other people don’t see. That’s the difference between Roger and the field. The rest play their game. That’s a big advantage. He is enjoying it more. It’s another edge.
“When he is hitting a backhand down the line, if he sees that happening still that will keep him going for another year.”
Is Roger Federer the greatest tennis player of all time?
Federer did indeed keep going until 2022, although unsurprisingly he wasn’t able to maintain his stunning efforts.
But he called time on his career with a mammoth 103 ATP titles won, second only to the 109 of Jimmy Connors.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
