NEW YORK — Roger Federer might not be so keen to try out his old-dog-new-trick, rush-the-net “SABR” — “sneak attack by Roger” — return strategy against his next opponent at the U.S. Open.
“I don’t think so,” Federer said. “I can always try. But it’s probably not the right guy to do it against.”
Probably not. That’s because the second-seeded Federer, who advanced Saturday by beating 29th-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, will have to deal with 6-foot-10 American John Isner and his massive serve in the fourth round.
“The idea is not to use it very much against a player like that,” Federer said about his innovative and risky approach to attacking second serves, racing forward as the ball arrives to pluck it off the ground with what amounts to a half-volley. “I have done pretty well over the years against big servers, so, I mean, clearly I will think about it. But I don’t think that’s going to be the turning point of the match, to be quite honest. I need to make sure I protect my own serve first.”
The 13th-seeded Isner, meanwhile, had lost in the third round each of the past three years — and each time, coincidentally, against Kohlschreiber.
No. 3 Andy Murray beat No. 30 Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the last match of the day.
Three past major champions in the women’s draw won Saturday afternoon — No. 5 Petra Kvitova, No. 20 Victoria Azarenka and No. 22 Sam Stosur. No. 2 Simona Halep, the 2014 French Open runner-up, beat qualifier Shelby Rogers of the U.S. 6-2, 6-3 to open the night session.
Twice the title winner at the Australian Open, and twice beaten by Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final, Azarenka needed six match points and nearly three hours to close out 11th-seeded Angelique Kerber 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
