Calendar slam not beyond Federer - Laver

By Miles Evans

LONDON (Reuters) - Roger Federer has achieved pretty much every record in the book, and Rod Laver sees no reason why the Swiss maestro cannot push on and emulate the Australian and win the much-vaunted 'calendar' slam.

Victory in Sunday's final against Andy Roddick in the Wimbledon singles final would propel Federer to a record 15th grand slam title, one more than Pete Sampras and four more than the 70-year-old Laver, nicknamed the 'Rockhampton Rocket'.

Laver is the only man in the modern era to have claimed all four slam titles -- the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open -- in one calendar year when he dominated the sport in 1969.

He achieved the same clean sweep in 1962 as an amateur and then turned professional, prompting a exile from the sport's majors until the game itself turned pro in 1968.

Making a rare return to the All England Club, Laver said the calendar slam -- also achieved by American Don Budge in 1938 -- was not unthinkable even in the highly competitive men's game.

"Is it still achievable now for him? Yeah, I would have thought so," Laver told a news conference.

Federer has won three of the four majors in a single year on three occasions.

"I certainly thought that Roger would be the odds on to repeat a Grand Slam in the same year," Laver added.