Rod Laver in awe of Federer's incredible resurgence
Aussie legend Rod Laver says Roger Federer is playing the best tennis of his life, and has made a huge call about his French Open hopes.
35-year-old Federer is off to a red-hot 19-1 start in 2017 on the back of Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami Open titles.
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He has won 11 consecutive matches as he now pauses to consider how much he will play in the clay season.
Laver, the last man to complete the Grand Slam (winning the Australian, French and US Opens, along with Wimbledon in one year) and only person to do it twice, says he hasn't seen the Swiss great play this well in a decade.
"He was playing like this 10 or 15 years ago, but his timing is perfect at this juncture," Laver said.
Federer and Laver at the Australian Open. Image: Getty
"He used to mis-hit a lot of balls at varying times, with chances to break serve.
"(In the Miami final vs. Nadal) I think he mis-hit one ball, a forehand that went out about 5 or 10 feet.
"It's uncanny."
Federer recently admitted he might skip the French Open altogether, but Laver reckons we will see him at Roland Garros.
"It's pretty amazing, the 'What will I do?'" said Laver.
"He's playing so well at the moment.
"I might venture he's playing the best tennis of his life.
"You'd like to be a fly on the wall as he thinks about all of this."
Laver said the lure of potentially completing a calendar grand slam would be a huge factor weighing on Federer's mind.
"My gut feeling is that he will play the French," Laver said.
"It's a double-edged sword almost. Are you going to wreck your chance at Wimbledon?
"If you get rainy weather, it's pretty damn difficult on that clay. You get a sore arm because of it. So you've got to look at everything.
"The first thing (about a Grand Slam) is, injuries. You can't have a cold, you can't have the flu, you can't have anything for six and a half months.
"You have to pace yourself. But he's in great shape right now."
As far as whether or not Federer can win the French Open, Laver has little doubt.
"The way he's playing, it isn't a far-reaching situation for him to win the French."
