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.