Roger Federer is now just one game away from winning an historic 15th Grand Slam title of his career.

If he defeats Andy Roddick in Sunday’s Wimbledon Men’s Singles final he will move clear of Pete Sampras in the record books.

But would that achievement make him the greatest tennis player of all time?

BBC Sport caught up with a host of experts to gauge their opinion on whether they think the Swiss maestro is better than Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg et al.

Sue Barker, BBC TV presenter

I do think he is the greatest player of all time, but it’s a close run thing with Rod Laver. I think though tennis has moved on, there are more people playing now and it is tougher to be at the top of the game.

If you look at all his records, 21 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals, seven consecutive Wimbledon finals – he has just been so dominant. It’s also the manner in which he plays the game, the finesse, the artistry, it is just beautiful. His whole game is total tennis and he is a brilliant player.

Tim Henman, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist

I thought Roger was the best player of all time before this tournament and the fact that he just constantly adds to the record books simply confirms my thoughts.

To notch up 21 consecutive Grand Slam semis and be in 16 out of the last 17 Grand Slam finals is amazing. He now has the chance to break the record on Sunday and end this argument for once and for all.

Boris Becker, two-time Wimbledon champion

I believe he is the greatest player of all time. He has won grand slams on all four surfaces, he has won 14 in total and is on the verge of winning his 15th here.

He is only 27 so he has a couple of good years left in him. His all-round game makes him so special and he really doesn’t have a weakness.

Greg Rusedski, former US Open finalist

There is no question about it, he is the greatest player of all time. He has done everything in the game and he will win many more titles.

He is still motivated to play, he has nothing more to prove and that just takes all the pressure off him again. Everytime we watch a Federer game he breaks another record, there always seems to be something. He is a legend. If the great Rod Laver says he is the best, nobody can argue.

John Lloyd, Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain

I don’t think it matters whether he wins this year’s Wimbledon, for me Roger Federer confirmed he is the greatest player of all time after winning the French Open.

He needed to do that at Roland Garros, but now he has, and taking in his overall record like reaching 21 successive Grand Slam semi-finals, he has to be the best of all time.

Virginia Wade, 1977 Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Champions

I think Roger is phenomenal, but you have to consider though that Laver was absolutely amazing too and if he hadn’t turned professional and missed five years he would have achieved incredible success.

Rod was definitely one of the greatest and the way he played the game made you wonder why you ever bothered trying yourself.

Andrew Castle, BBC TV commentator

It is a really difficult question to give you a yes or no to when the great Rod Laver played three out of four of his grand slams on grass surfaces.

But I think the answer is that Roger Federer is the greatest player I have personally ever seen. In terms of the way he plays the game he is the most elegant, artistic player I have ever watched and he mixes it with brutal power. So my vote would be for Roger.

Chris Bailey, BBC TV commentator

Laver twice won all four majors in a year and Federer is yet to do that. If you take out the years that Laver couldn’t play in because he had turned professional you begin to think, ‘how many slams could Laver actually have won?’ I never saw the Australian play, but having watched watched Federer play he is an absolute genius. Whether he is the best of all time, it’s a fine line. I’d say he equal top with Laver.

source: news.bbc.co.uk