What is SABR in the sport of tennis?

Tennis is a game of physical and mental ability where the margin of error is very thin. Players opt to hit a range of shots from their forehand and backhand wing from the baseline or from near the net to ensure the ball lands within bounds on the other side of the net. Moreover, the goal is to win a point by either forcing the error out of the opponent or by hitting unreturnable shots.

The SABR or Sneaky Attack By Roger is a tactical play in the sport of tennis which was executed by Swiss tennis player Roger Federer. This move was first publicized by Federer at the 2015 Cincinnati Open, a Masters 1000 tournament on the men’s professional tennis circuit.

The SABR is a returner’s strategy. During the motion of the server’s ball toss, the returner makes a brisk approach towards the service line, without the server realising the movement of his or her opponent. If the serve is legal, it lands in close proximity to the returner who is now near the service box. The return that follows is usually a half volley shot.

Servers are often taken aback by this move, and do not have much time to respond to the return shot. It is also noteworthy to mention that Federer opted for this shots only on hard courts. This is likely because of the better predictability of the ball’s trajectory on hard courts compared to grass and clay courts.

The precision and skill required to opt for the SABR is immense. Apart from Federer, no player has notably employed this tactic regularly. Moreover, in a career that spanned nearly two decades, it was during the later portion of his career when Federer decided to make this innovation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

© Copyright 2024 Betting Dog - Sitemap