By AFP

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Federer’s ‘greatest shot’ in US Open revives memory of lob against Agassi in Dubai

Federer hails Dubai lob shot in 2005 against Andre Agassi as one of his ‘most memorable’ shots

By AFP
Roger Federer of Switzerland steers the ball past the net against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day 6 of the 2018 US Open Men's Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.
Roger Federer of Switzerland steers the ball past the net against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day 6 of the 2018 US Open Men's Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.

Roger Federer’s shot heard round the US Open on Saturday – a jaw-dropping forehand around the post in a straight-sets win over Nick Kyrgios – ranks as one of his most memorable, the Swiss great said.

“It was definitely one of the more unique ones,” said Federer, who raced forward and wide on a sharply angled shot from Kyrgios, stretched and flicked a forehand around the post on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Video of US Open Hot Shot: Roger Federer Goes AROUND The Net

Kyrgios’s eyes widened in astonishment as the ball landed in his court and could be heard opining at the ensuing changeover “That’s got to be the greatest shot in tennis.”

Federer said it was all instinct – it’s not a shot that can be practiced.

“You don’t get an opportunity to hit around the net post very often, because in practice the net is out further and the court is more narrow.

“For a shot like this to happen in a practice, you will be running into a fence and you will hit it into the net.

“These shots can only really happen on a big court where you play with the singles posts in the doubles alley.”

Video of Roger Federer "impossible" shot vs Andre Agassi! | Dubai 2005 Semi-Final

Kyrgios, already two sets down and deflated after squandering a rare chance to break Federer in the first, quipped that he should post some pictures on Instagram.

“I was trying to tell him that the shot wasn’t that good,” he said. “No, it was almost unreal.”

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, said the shot ranked right up there with some of the most memorable of his career, in a group with his smash off a smash by Andy Roddick at Basel in 2002 and a lob flicked over Andre Agassi on break point in Dubai in 2005.

“I do believe the smash off the smash against Roddick was special just because it was way back in the court, as well. And then there was one more in Dubai against Agassi on break point. I was able to flick a ball. I still don’t know how I did it today. It went for a lob,” he said.

“It was just a massive point on top of it, and it was against Andre.”

Another one for the scrapbook: a between the legs effort against Novak Djokovic at the US Open in 2009.

“I think it was 6-5, Love-30, it was just a big-time moment in the game, which obviously always matters as well,” Federer said.

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