Roger Federer (Photo : Getty Images)
Rod Laver is convinced Roger Federer has a chance at another Grand Slam title, but the Australian tennis legend said it could only happen if the Swiss Maestro gets a good draw in one of the remaining major tournaments this season.
Laver, who completed two calendar Grand Slams and won 11-major titles, predicted that Federer has a chance for a record-extending 18th Grand Slam win at Wimbledon his year. However, the 77-year-old Aussie admitted it would depend on the draw at major tournaments.
"So, yeah, somewhere around the line maybe Wimbledon is an opportunity for him to do that," Laver said after Federer lost to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last month, reports Sports360.
"If he gets a good draw, and I think that's always very big, there's probably two, three, four guys that you would really rather not have to play. If they're in the other half, you've got an opportunity."
Federer missed out a chunk of tennis competition at Rotterdam and Dubai after successfully undergoing knee surgery that repaired his torn left meniscus suffered a day after losing to Djokovic in Melbourne.
The 34-year-old Swiss is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, but Federer has already showed signs of good health after getting back on the practice court.
Federer is scheduled to play at Roland Garros this year, but the only lead-up tournament he will compete prior to that is the Indian Wells, where gets to face Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.
Laver's prediction may be true as fans do not expect Federer to win immediately after recover from knee surgery, which means Wimbledon is the Swiss' realistic target to hoist another Grand Slam trophy.
In 17 of his major titles, Federer won seven of them at Wimbledon. The world No. 3 appeared in the final round of the tournament in the last two years, but fell short against career rival Djokovic.
There is a chance Federer could meet Djokovic as early as the semifinal round of the Wimbledon if the former enters the tournament as third seed, like what happened at the Australian Open. But regardless of the draws, Federer would have a hard time winning the elusive Grand Slam title as long as Djokovic is dominating the sport.
