Tony Roche

Oz tennis great Roche compares Federer to Laver

Roger Federer on form with Madrid win over StepanekMelbourne, Jan. 31 : Former Australian tennis great Tony Roche believes that Swiss player Roger Federer is as great as former Grand Slam champion Rod Laver.

He believes Federer will eclipse Pete Sampras''s all-time record of 14 grand slam titles, even if he fails against Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open men''s final on Sunday.

Hailing Federer the most elegant player he had seen, Roche declared the Swiss master on an irreversible journey to tennis immortality.

Federer on a mission to regain tennis top ranking, says ex-coach Roche

Federer on a mission to regain tennis top ranking, says ex-coach RocheMelbourne, Jan. 31 : Australian tennis coach Tony Roche is of the view that Swiss great Roger Federer is on a mission to reclaim the prized No. 1 ranking, as well as his 14th Grand Slam title.

Roche, who steered a chastened Ivan Lendl back to the top when the Czech-born American won his first Australian Open in 1989, has also coached Federer for three years, and is looking forward to Sunday to see whether history can be repeated 20 years later at the same venue.