Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Roger Federer’s recently adopted aggressive tactics, including the SABR (Sneak Attack By Roger), may have swept him to the US Open final but they only met with limited success in the final. Nevertheless the 34 year-old insists he intends to carry on playing in that manner and hopes for even greater success next year.

Federer tried to the SABR seven times in the final that Djokovic ended up winning 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 and took the point on four occasions. However as the match lengthened it appeared the world no.1 had worked out a strategy to counter Federer rushing into the service line to take a second serve early.

Djokovic got to the ball and lobbed it back over Federer’s head to cause the Swiss to dash back to the baseline. When questioned about the employment of the SABR tactic, Federer said: “I think it worked very well, and I’m sure I will use it more in the future against him and many others.

“It was a really interesting last few months or so looking at that tactic. If you look at the points you probably have to win, you have to play them perfectly. So could have won even more so. Who knows? Maybe I should have played even more of it. I did get many more looks on the second serve as the match went on.”

Federer’s occasional coach Stefan Edberg is insistent the damp conditions, following a three hours rain delay, played a part in Federer not being as aggressive as he would have liked. But the Swede believes Federer’s attacking play will reap dividends in next year’s major events.

‘You still cannot count him out,” Edberg told reporters after the final. ”If Roger keeps playing at this level, he’ll get another shot.”

And even Djokovic was forced to admit: “‘He’s always going to be out there making you play your best if you want to win.”

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.