SABR | The Sneak Attack that SAVED Roger Federer's Career

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It started as a joke. It ended up redefining Roger Federer's entire career.
Initially hated by many with multiples more left bewildered, the rarely before seen blitz marked the culmination of Federer’s years of experience and experimentation in crafting a move which may have contributed to one of the best late-career athletic comebacks of all time. But while extremely flashy and undoubtedly impressive when executed, do the statistics actually validate SABR’s usefulness in a professional level match? How effective really was it?
CULT TENNIS brings you player profiles and analyzes some of the best stories in the world of Tennis! Subscribe to see more content like this, and thank you for stopping by!
Video written by Vikram Nijhawan
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[@CULTTENNIS]

Second Serve | Exposing the Tennis Trick Shot that Broke the Internet: nebula.tv/videos/culttennis-exposing-the-tennis-trick-shot-that-broke-the-internet

[@ermishatziantoniou5113]

@CULTTENNIS The reason Becker hated the SABR was because it was first implemented on a match against him by Mansour Bahrami on clay in Hamburg 1988 . So the inventor question is finished .

[@Michael-Boyer]

@@ermishatziantoniou5113or moreso that he was coaching Djoker and Fed was making Djoker look silly. Bahrami used a similar tactic but it wasn’t a sneak, he was already at the service line basically for his starting position. You could do that back then easier when nobody served 100mph.

[@jackjd1973]

The goat is making a video on Federer no way 😂 🐐

[@gave2haze]

When i get a job I'm gonna binge nebula so hard

[@danielkriz7533]

This video is pure cope. SABR won Roger exactly 0 slams. He is a worse player than both Djokovic and Nadal.

[@Darty555]

2017 Federer during his AO title and Sunshine double wins has to be one of the best displays of attacking tennis in the modern era. His backhand looked unstoppable, he was consistently taking the ball so early and immediately put his opponent on the backfoot and the SABR was the perfect shot that exemplified all of that.

[@MonachusRex]

tennis peaked for me in that period

[@randyw8761]

why couldnt he keep doing it after that?

[@miljann98]

​@@randyw8761A certain 23 Grand Slam champion returned

[@zedalive4764]

the incoming ball had a good speed at the AO 2017

[@peterk5981]

@@randyw8761 why are you still alive or you not?

[@Alexbloke]

Finally, HES BACK!

[@lllIIIIIlIlIIllll]

It’s been too long

[@CP-ym9eh]

He is already dead like his career

[@f1foreveryone879]

​@@CP-ym9eh?

[@CartoonSlug]

He's back, to making overproduced yet still mediocre videos!

[@Guergeiro]

Roger is just the beauty of tennis. I watched not because of wins, but because the magic he produced on set.

[@duohere3981]

faker

[@Guergeiro]

@@zlatkostevanovic5891 feel better about what? Unlike other sports, where fans have the mentality of "either with us or against us", in tennis you can have joy from just watching a good game of tennis.

[@John-yt8cl]

Roger should have no problems in giving up his trophies and title prize money because winning doesn't matter, only pleasing the crowd does.

[@Guergeiro]

@@John-yt8cl I guess Novak and Nadal shouldn't have problems as well, given they also play beautiful tennis.

[@John-yt8cl]

@@Guergeiro they might not need to. Players play to win. At least that's what the players say in their press conferences.

[@seangates900]

I never heard Roger claiming to invent the shot, therefore why does it matter? It rejuvenated his backhand, and his career. End of story, Nothing Becker said matters here.

[@chersegems2315]

The acronym standing for "Sneak Attack by Roger" is an implicit declaration of invention, though.

[@seangates900]

Okay, but nobody really claims authorship, other than the commentators, who just need to stay relevant. Nobody has really invented anything in this game in the last 25 years . . . other than the tweener. And standing 6 metres behind the baseline on every 2nd serve return.

[@DustyDingoPhotos]

@@chersegems2315 . . . sure . . . but a declaration by whom? Certainly not RF. Since when do we let commentators determine such?

[@sd.stajic]

​@@seangates900the so-called "SABR" wasn't Federer invention. It has been used before.

[@seangates900]

@@sd.stajic I think you'll see I agree.

[@brandonm8901]

Great example of some brilliant coaching. Interestingly, that 2015 Cincy match against Djokovic is the 4th lowest return points won % in Djokovic's career. Of the 3 other matches, one was in 2007 and the other two were just before his elbow surgery in 2017. What this means is that Federer's clinical serving was significant in how Federer won that match and tournament. Djokovic and Murray definitely sussed out the SABR quicker than others, and I think Murray should also get credit for stepping in significantly on the second serve before Federer dubbed it the SABR

[@CULTTENNIS]

Nice analysis!

[@bingo1646]

​@@CULTTENNISpls start a tennis players biography series By - your huge fan

[@oliviernikolcic3337]

Remember what Djokovic did in the US Open final few weeks after that when Federer tried his stolen move again? Bet you do! After that, Federer never used it again against Novak...

[@drejtoman2974]

Brilliant coaching? By whom ?

[@JenniferSchager]

@@oliviernikolcic3337 Right? Fed stole the FH, BH and volley too. All of that was done years before. He's such a fake.

[@WivoRN]

Missed your videos so much my man! Fascinating stuff as always and welcome back! ❤️

[@CULTTENNIS]

Thanks Wivo, always appreciate the kind words 😊

[@RainWasTaken]

I went to the 2015 Western & Southern Open with my dad and watched the final of Federer vs. Djokovic. I firmly remember looking at my dad after I saw the SABR and saying “is that allowed?”

[@ermishatziantoniou5113]

The reason Becker hated the SABR was because it was first implemented on a match against him by Mansour Bahrami on clay in Hamburg 1988 . So the inventor question is finished .

[@mnm1273]

Surely there's no proof that he was the first. Someone else could have thought it up earlier and it be forgotten in the exact same way his discovery was.

[@JacenSolo0]

​@@mnm1273probably fair to say Roger was the first to use it in the profession game

[@mnm1273]

@@JacenSolo0 The OP seems to disagree, and if there's one obscure claim to the invention I don't see why there couldn't be second. A lot of pro games have been played in history.

[@lokzim]

i was sure someone before federer came up with serve and volley, we should comdem that too

[@antang6964]

Johny Mac did it against Becker.

[@boyzemail4769]

Still the GOAT of tennis storytelling! We’ve missed you

[@benjaminrosen5342]

Can you talk about why the Wimbledon courts were slowed down so significantly? Would be an interesting video

[@annewalden3795]

Benjamin the Courts were slowed down to encourage the Spanish players to come to Wimbledon .

[@stevenreynolds4338]

I believe the tennis balls being slower plays an important part in that.

[@fishflake1209]

The topic comes up in the video about carpet courts.

[@divicospower9112]

To allow players without talent and skill on it to win. Without it, Nadal and Djokovic would still stay at 0 victory.

[@tds7078]

SABR really is the serve and volley of returning.

[@kierankelleher007]

Brilliant. The quality of these video essay edits is out of this world. Great to see a new one - amazing as ever all round.

[@nikc2246]

Love to see you back! I was just rewatching vids this week.

[@filthypleb9224]

Its a good day when cult tennis upload

[@daspacepope]

I'm always in awe at the quality of these videos.

[@rafaelcoelho5226]

Wow, your videos are absolutely amazing! I can't get enough of them! Keep up the fantastic work!

[@enigma629]

The Fed bh in 2017 was one of the deadliest shots ever.

[@Frank_Lee_Terrible]

6:15 having 33% points won is actually pretty good since it's on the return

[@jimweisgram9185]

I think the SABR's biggest impact was how it played with opponents emotions.

[@Frank_Lee_Terrible]

@@jimweisgram9185 This too.

[@hughoutwater7083]

Bro your editing skills have gotten so good the visuals on this were so cool 🙌

[@TheFuzzyman44]

Thank you for your content! Top notch as always! ❤❤❤

[@bradberkely7448]

I remember doing this sort of thing in highschool a lot! I was on doubles and my return of serves were not working for me at all that season (hitting a lot of weak shots or them going out) so I just decided to be really aggressive and just get the ball in. This really helped out a lot and as a doubles team we got pretty far into the state championship!

[@jakstrike1]

Unreal production quality. Nice work.

[@mwu365]

I would love more of these kinds of videos in addition to your usual stuff.

[@wpoleg]

Wonderful video - thanks for the effort put into this!

[@annamariaisland1960]

There's a video on youtube of a match between Laver and Borg in the 1970s in which Laver pulled a SABR (sneak attack by Rod) on Borg. The announcer, Pancho Gonzalez, even called it a "sneak attack," implying that it was a known tactic, perhaps as early as the 1950s.

[@ilips6588]

It was much more of a serve and volley game at the time due to a slower game which allowed to run up to the net much easier.. More difficult in today's game although we often see players standing inside the court to return second serves like alcaraz or safiulin, being as or even more efficient than with the sabr..

[@mrclean7164]

Didn’t know you were on nebula! I’ll check it out now:)

[@louisniemeyer726]

Love the content. Is it possible for you to eventually do a video on Jack Sock's career?

[@lsmart]

I'm shocked that you completely ignore the change that REALLY revitalized his career -- his larger racket. Throughout the 2012-2016 period, he could regularly get into quarters and semis in the slams because his overall game was so great, but once he came up against the true greats, he would repeatedly get overpowered in rallies, as Rafa, Novak, Delpo, Wawrinks, and a few others, would hit powerful, screaming groundstrokes, while his returns would be popups, allowing them plenty of time to get in good position and overpower him with the following shot. He could get by with his forehand because of the incredible quickness of his wrist swing created extra speed on the shot, but his one-handed backhand simply could not even come close to those of his top opponents. Because the heavier racket did not noticeably slow down his swing, the speed and power of his backhand increased by leaps and bounds. In the AO final. That is why he went from losing most of his matches to the more powerful Rafa, to winning 6 matches in a row against him. I remain convinced to this day that he even might have had a shot against Rafa in the RG 2019 SF were it not for the insane 40 mph wind gusts, because Rafa just tore it thru the wind with brute force, whereas Roger's second serves were coming in at 80 mph. And yes, I am aware that he made the switch already in 2014, but he himself admitted that it took him several years to become fully comfortable with it and have full control (he also missed serious time due to injuries), A 10-second Google search yielded this article from March 2017: www.tennis.com/news/articles/roger-federer-credits-switch-to-bigger-racquet-for-improved-backhand

[@hotstixx]

What planet are you from ? Overpowered by Delpo,Wavrinka,Djok and Nadal ? Where ? When ? And how often ? If a player is being overpowered I expect the results to reflect this ? Where are all the straight sets victories against Federer ? The melodrama in so many of these comments...its as if theres as whole generation brought up on Marvel movies and that players have a single identifying gift that gives them an overwhelming and transformative advantage.Youre such a bunch of drama tarts.

[@Firemarioflower]

Great man! That was an enjoyable read! I learned something!

[@lsmart]

@@Firemarioflower My pleasure.

[@appualliyanaa]

His forehand was actually formidable with the old racket. Shots with immaculate precision and pace were there. But his backhand had to face the most shots. With the new racket he had to compromise a bit from his forehand and compensate it disproportionately on the backhand. That was more working with Nadal as the weakness turned out to be his weapon. He doesn’t have to chip or slice the high bouncing topspin power shots back into the opponent’s court anymore. Outside of clay since 2017AO nadal only won a single set against Federer. Nadal was literally answerless.

[@hyperchord]

Well, you're just brilliant, aren't you? Why don't you make tennis videos and, you know, never make a mistake

[@jordnchn7907]

your editing remains top tier!

[@lkjkhfggd]

I love the high risk high reward gameplay of running to the net immediately. I'll do it in my own games if the opponent's second serve is weak. It is really high risk as if your return isn't good enough, the opponent can easily lob it over you or hit a passing shot into one of the corners. Heck, just getting the return is tough and risky as the opponent could easily go for another 1st serve and get an ace on you.

[@jackbynum]

I fell in love with this sport because of Federer, watching his comeback was so inspiring.

[@andre-px8rv]

I literally only got nebula for this channel. Post more tho we love the content bro. I’m these take time but I’m sure you can dish out even 1 a month. Keep up the work .

[@CULTTENNIS]

Will do

[@AJPennyPacker2]

If there was one player who could pull off the SABR, it was Federer, who was already known for his great hands and feel at the net which was why he was so adept at picking up half volleys like a true old-school player. I also always keep in mind that if the tour hadn’t made the decision to slow down the hard courts halfway through his career, which counteracted his playing style, he would’ve won more matches against Rafa, Nole, and other greats at the time.

[@Phi1.618]

Your editing work is sick.

[@Michael-Boyer]

Great vid. But seems like a lot speculation. The Sabr maybe helped Fed win 2015 Cincy, though I think he still wins without it but not the 2015 USO. 33% is bad, though maybe it induced more errors from his opps on other points. But he’s only doing it on 2nd serves and maybe half a dozen times at most. But, he didn’t win another GS until 2017 AO. I think his more carefree attitude coming back from his first big injury was the biggest reason he won the 2017 AO.

[@dricthekid3909]

100% agree. Federer didn’t change his technic significantly on the backhand to win AO 2017. He even told it himself. His mental attitude towards the backhand and the way to play it changed drastically. But he didn’t shorten his backswing. Even on the exemple during the video it’s not significant. Only the timing changes. And the Sabr was a cool shot but never helped him to win anything. This video is total speculation, and most people will take it like a true story.

[@mattc3581]

33% points won against your opponent's first serve in men's tennis is not that bad, that's probably more or less what it is when he didn't use the SABR. Plus it was used very sparingly and thrown in as something to unsettle the opponent rather than being a high percentage play. Even if it doesn't win you any more points than normal, if it puts your opponent off a little on their serve for the rest of the match then it's well worth it. But yeah, once opponents have seen it and it loses the shock value then it probably isn't worth continuing.

[@Michael-Boyer]

@@mattc3581 he’s mostly or almost exclusively using it on 2nd serves. 33% isn’t good for 2nd serves just from a percentage viewpoint. But thinking your opps thinking might have some value. It just wasn’t a long-term strategy.

[@quietlyworking]

👏Soooooo well put together!🤙

[@Madferit91]

Nah fam this is incorrect. Thar was a shot that even Roger himself is on record saying it was more fun that useful. He actually stopped doing it after a while.

[@medina2529]

He changed his backhand to take the ball earlier and in the uprise, just like Guga used to do, making his backhand devastating. He even commented that with Guga in a meeting they had at that time.

[@zelmoziggy]

I'm sure that his larger racket and improved backhand had little to do with his late career resurgence compared to a shot he'd pull off two or three times in a tournament.

[@joaofelipesiqueira21]

Incredible video

[@realityblooms]

Your graphics are insane! How long do these transitions take you!?

[@edisonbiag06]

What app did you use for this video? Thank you This is a very nice video

[@TapDat52K]

I may no longer play tennis due to other interests taking over for sports, but I always have time for Cult Tennis. ESPECIALlY when it comes to the rise of a staple technique becoming popularized.

[@CULTTENNIS]

Thanks for being here!

[@nicolaspalma9362]

Great video, is it possible to see a video about 2016 Andy Murray's great season?

[@mister9240]

Yo i just gotta say this u have the besttt tennis videos

[@hyperflatforehand3302]

Top tier comment as Always bro, you keep inspiring us with cool stories♥️. Thanks

[@rachidbaaira9869]

Great vidéo, tnkx

[@julestennisuniverse]

😉 It's called a return-volley. Pretty classic, nothing to do with roger federer. Watch any match of Rod Laver or McEnroe. You can even watch footage pre-50's, it's as old as tennis.

[@RH_Core]

Love your videos

[@alan6miw]

what a edition!

[@mizelo4138]

Early! Thank you for the hard work as usual!

[@andrewmiller3055]

Convincing recount of Federer and the SABR! Proof positive is how few players even attempt this (even if tons of pro tennis players in the top 200 or so could do this). This video shows perfectly how players adapted, so the real story is how the strategy worked until his best competitors adjusted. It means other players can employ it as needed.

[@MrMartinvince]

awesome video!

[@anansistirade5800]

Prime Rodger and i'm talking pre back injuries wipes the floor with anyone from any era the GOAT

[@BottomFragFred]

Mom wake up cult tennis uploaded

[@Patrick-cccc]

These videos are insane

[@tomasferrada390]

A video about the chilean / massu achievement in the 2004 olympics would be fun. What they did is unrepeatable

[@Flurryrush61]

The return of the king

[@drgyt2469]

In the two backhand videos from 2011 and 2019 that you show, the latter has actually a longer loop :-)

[@cavon_08]

God how much I miss watching him play. The most beautiful and enjoyable tennis ever

[@TriniBoy16]

Welcome back. You were missed.

[@gmaster0969]

He’s back!!!!!

[@jpesmar]

Although the SABR didn't seem to work on Nole at the USO '15 finals, I really think Roger should've stick to it more in that match. Yes, he was lobbed a few times, and I remember a return game on which Federer went to the net two times in a row with a really great position only to be miraculously passed by Nole. And that's the key word, miraculously. Even Nole can't keep producing passing shot after passing shot from compromising positions against a fit Roger. Roger got scared and doubted himself and his super aggressive return game after that, and regressed to a more conservative approach on the big points against Nole in that match. The SABR wasn't just effective on its own, it was great because it was created tons of doubt against the server, even on the likes of Nole or Murray who could rely on amazing passing shots if needed (much more than others, at least). It also means that the were less likely to risk a lot on the first serve, because they know their second serve is vulnerable to that play by Roger. It was a really good trick to have under his sleeve, specially on crucial points. USO '15 was a tournament in which Roger played better than the rest of the class through the tournament, except on the big points in the final against Nole (much like Wimbledon '19), off course, that speaks more about Nole's mental fortitude than against Roger's, but still. He was flying against everybody and had he stick to his guns on the final, specially on big points, it could've helped him a lot and maybe created some doubt on Nole's mind on the big points, which is almost impossible on regular circumstances.

[@Sealdrop]

best video in the open era

[@ljpa5250]

His Backhand improvement was about the bigger headsize not because roger hit 3 chip and charches per match

[@lovelylin110]

He was spotted at the US Open qualifiers!

[@JMOY19902]

Great video

[@premo2k781]

Can anyone advise if the SABR is something that be used in doubles too?

[@erikmeendsen_golf]

When I see Cult Tennis, I click.

[@danw5760]

I didn't totally agree with how you judged it's success rate, given that he is returning, you wouldn't expect him to win the majority of the points. We need a comparison with how 33 percent sabr compared with his normal return point win percentage

[@gregg9694]

Great point. This is what I was thinking too.

[@anishg777]

Make sure to remember your password this time

[@Darrihen]

Doing that helps me a lot against good servers, obviously I'm talking about amateur level here. I faced a lot of opponent with good service, and I realized that most of them, have a great 1st server and the 2nd is not the big deal, so doing the SABR, helps a lot to put preassure on the opponent's 1st serve. But here is the thing, I'm not Roger Federer, so I did some adaptation doing the sabr at 1step away from the service line and return the ball the closest to my opponent feets.

[@antoniomarine1567]

Great video! Roger = GOAT!

[@winternowww]

Yeajjjj 🎉 LOVE U man!!

[@ATennis23]

Cult Tennis is the goat of Tennis KZbinrs 🐐

[@chrisf9156]

Surprised you didn't throw in that it's essentially an exaggerated Agassi-inspired return. The addition, an added approach to the net, is because Federer is so good at ending points there. But that aggressive-styled return was why Agassi was so good at breaking serve. It would throw players off.

[@danielcoughlin8162]

Instead of focusing only on a 33% success with SABR, compare that to stats for win % of normal serve returns. Given the win % of pro service games, I’d have to think that return % isn’t much better than 33% without SABR. An additional advantage of SABR is the great footwork that results from the attacking return - moving forward, not getting stuck by a ball that’s playing you rather than the opposite.

[@tomasmartinez655]

0:26 probably meant "longevity"

[@antoniozuazo7918]

Please do a video on David nalbandian

[@frost2747]

So Benoit Paire helped Federer develop the SABR from the beginning. A true GOAT!!

[@elliottschannel]

Every video you produce is simply perfection (also first)

[@coolsurgeonintown]

SABRRRR like a light saber 😘😘

[@riccardorusso7162]

Babe wake up! Cult tennis posted a new video.

[@cristobalmoncada4698]

I miss Roger so much

[@acikacika]

No bro, it was the on the rise backhand that got him to get back

[@jenniferstolte5431]

HE REMEMBERED HIS PASSWORD

[@dannigjik]

Best vid ever

[@viningwolff7781]

wasn't it Andre that first showed you could win wimbelton from the baseline? or was there someone prior?

[@fabi3679]

what ive seen is pretty simple, yet one of a kind the further away from his physical prime he went, the more and more complex end efective did his techniques get, to a point where he was able to beat opponents that were physically in way better shape, but just didnt have access to the techniques, as he "invented" some of them himself

[@jonathanchen1026]

If anyone else actually invented it…they would have named it. The true master of it gave its name and used it to peRFection.

[@lairdinho]

Personally, I think Fed's backhand was much better at in the early part of his career. Say, 2004, before Rafa rocked his confidence. It was a nicer, looser looking shot and he used to both really get through it nicely and get over it. In the middle part of his career, the drive backhand looked really brittle. It got a bit better again towards the end with the new larger frame etc, but it still wasn't as loose and positive looking at it had been during his very early tenure at the top of the game.

[@thetennistalk]

🔥🔥🔥

[@CULTTENNIS]

🫡🫡🫡

[@PooPooKakaPeePee]

I always thought it was Edberg who told Roger to try the SABR

[@lairdinho]

Longetivity?! 😅 Longevity, I think you meant!

[@starbucksadmin7265]

Champion of week era

[@havu2236]

The guy who said he invented that style in practice however he didn't use it in tournament. So the move belongs to Roger because he put it into use in real game play.

[@TheseHoesAreLoyal]

8:02 that backhand on the left is from either 2012 or 2013, not 2011.

[@deepstrider]

First time I come across one of your videos. I watched it hesitantly despite being put off by the title. Great stuff! Still, “saved his career” is a ridiculous claim.

[@JoshDragon18]

How many times did he use the SABR? Like one time every other match or something?