Roger Federer is on fire against young American Taylor Fritz, twice breaking the 21-year-old as he breezed through the first set 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
It’s the best the Swiss maestro has looked so far this tournament, with Fritz struggling to find answers even with a strong first serve percentage of around 60 per cent.
Nick Kyrgios has had enough experience against Federer to know what you need to do to give yourself a chance against the player he sees as the men’s tennis GOAT and, making his debut in commentary for Channel Nine, he encouraged the American to try something completely different to turn the tide.
“When Federer gets to the front he’s almost impossible to stop,” Kyrgios said.
“It’s a difficult one, you just do anything he hasn’t seen before and he’s seen everything.”
Kyrgios said that the first set was the “best set of tennis” he’d watched.
“From here, it was just Federer playing too good.
“Federer’s timing is scary good. He almost hits everything on the half-volley.
“(Fritz) is playing some really good tennis, he’s just caught Federer on a really good day.
“He’s zoning at the moment. He’s so relaxed. It’s so tough for Taylor to do anything really.”
Kyrgios went on to make light of a tactic that he has used successfully in the past and that Federer has taken ownership of, claiming he “invented it in juniors”.
The tactic, which has become known as the ‘SABR’ (sneak attack by Roger) is a super-attacking approach off a return of serve, moving forward after taking the ball on the half volley.
“Roger didn’t create the SABR, I did and he stole it,” Kyrgios claimed in a light-hearted exchange with Jim Courier.
A spectacular third-set drop shot particularly delighted Kyrgios – no surprise given his own eye for the spectacular.
“Oh my goodness. Butter. So smooth,” the Canberran said.
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