Djokovic despised the SABR

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The SABR (“Sneak Attack By Roger”) was Federer’s surprise return tactic where he’d charge the net right after the opponent’s second serve, essentially half-volleying the return and rushing them.

Why Djokovic visibly didn’t like it:
1. It broke rhythm: Djokovic thrives on long rallies and patterns. The SABR disrupted that flow and forced him into uncomfortable, reactive shots.
2. It was bold—almost cheeky: The SABR felt borderline disrespectful to some—like Federer saying, “I’m going to take your second serve and walk it right back to you.” Djokovic, being ultra-competitive and serious, probably didn’t love being toyed with like that.
3. It worked—sometimes: When it did succeed, it drew big crowd reactions, and Djokovic doesn’t always enjoy being on the wrong end of flashy crowd-pleasers, especially against Fed, who had huge fan support.
4. It put pressure on his second serve: Even for the best returners, having a guy rush you mid-serve is mentally taxing. Novak might’ve felt it was more gimmick than strategy, but the fact it made him uncomfortable meant it was doing its job. #federer #djokovic #tennis #sabr