Paris win would make Federer the greatest, says Henman

By Miles Evans

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer will have proved he is the greatest tennis player the game has seen if he wins the French Open, old foe Tim Henman said on Thursday.

Henman, a former world number four and one of a select band of players to have beaten Federer at Wimbledon, said the Swiss maestro was the favourite to break his Roland Garros duck and become the sixth male player to win all four majors in his career.

Federer faces Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-finals in Paris on Friday, and if he lifts the Musketeers' Cup on Sunday he would join Pete Sampras at the top of the all-time list with 14 grand slam titles.

"I think it would make him the best. I really hope he can win it, it really would be the icing on the cake," Henman, who retired in 2007, told Reuters.

"If you were to ask me who was the best player I had seen and the best player I had played against he would win on both counts. He's so humble and down to earth."

Far from being content to rest on his laurels, Henman believes Federer will not follow in the footsteps of Bjorn Borg and retire early and will aim to put the grand slam record out of reach.

"He's got plenty of his career ahead of him, his game technically and mentally takes so little out of him. I would much more question (the longevity of Rafa) Nadal because his game is as physically demanding as it gets," the Briton said at an event organised by sponsors Robinsons.

"He (Federer) doesn't put stress on his body and I definitely think he could be around for another four or five years.