The great Rod Laver writes about current world number one Roger Federer in the new issue of Tiome Magazine featuring "The Time 100: The Most Influential People in the World."
Here is what Rocket Rod had to say:
"The most impressive aspect of Roger Federer's ascendancy to the top of the tennis world is the way he carries himself as a champion. It's quite unusual. He just lets his racquet do the talking. There's no entourage at his beck and call. He doesn't have a bunch of coaches and trainers micromanaging everything he does. Roger has so much natural talent, they would just disrupt it if they muddled his mind. He exudes energy, and you just know he enjoys the camaraderie of all his competitors. Tennis had lost that positive vibe over the years. His game is so spectacular and graceful—I can't tell you how many times I've asked friends, "Did you see Roger's shot last week, the crosscourt winner he hit a zillion miles per hour?" He has this amazing knack for raising his game just a notch more than an opponent. He never gets rattled if he's down. You can only marvel.
Every time I speak to Roger, I sense no ego on his part. He asks me questions about how I prepared for big matches—Roger has a clear appreciation for the history of tennis. (Plus, these days, I should be the one peppering him with questions. He's the big star!) When you're talking to Roger, he makes you feel important—whether you're a fan, an opposing player or an old geezer like me. People often ask me if Roger, 25, is the greatest player of all time. Let's wait until the end of his career before making the "best ever" judgment. He should definitely be in every conversation. One thing is for sure: he's the best player of his time and one of the most admirable champions on the planet. That's certainly something worth crowing over. The beauty is, Roger Federer won't."

On his web site, Federer reacted to his inclusion in The Time 100:"Being able to promote tennis with my efforts on an off court is of great importance to me. For this reason, it is a great honour to appear in Time magazine’s list. It is once again proof that I am moving into the right direction. It fills me with joy to be a role model for others as I can inspire other people with my actions. This is one of the reasons why my Foundation is so important to me: it gives me the opportunity to influence the lives of others in a positive way and share my success with them. Also, I would like to point out that there are many other personalities who would deserve to be mentioned in this list.”