NEW YORK—Roger Federer is one of the sharpest servers in the sport, but it's his return that sets the Swiss apart, says Nick Kyrgios.
The explosive Aussie calls Federer's backhand chip return "the best the game has ever seen" and said that shot is key to the Australian Open champion's skill defusing big servers.
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"I think his slice return, his chip return, is the best the game has ever seen," Kyrgios said. "There has never been a better chip return ever. I think if you took that shot away, he wouldn't be as good because he neutralizes big serves as well. He turns it into pretty much instant offense."
Kyrgios will face Federer in the US Open third round after the second-seeded Swiss swept Benoit Paire today.
Federer has won two of their three meetings with eight of the nine sets the pair played decided in tie breaks.
Federer bunted a backhand pass on match point out-dueling Kyrgios, 6-7 (2), 6-2, 7-6 (5), in the Stuttgart semifinals in June to regain the world No. 1 ranking.
The 30th-seeded Kyrgios often brings his best tennis against Federer. Kyrgios defeated the 20-time Grand Slam champion, 6-7 (2) 7-6 (5), 7-6 (12) at the 2015 Madrid. Federer has
The five-time US Open champion's all-court attack, fluid movement and skill playing first-strike tennis set him apart says Kyrgios.
"His serve and first shot unbelievable, very unpredictable," Kyrgios said. "And he's unbelievably efficient. Never gets tired, doesn't seem like it. His movements are so efficient. He's just, yeah, those would be the three things. He's efficient, serve and first ball, and chip return."
Federer feels his all-court skill is his best asset.
"I still feel like probably other shots have won me my tournaments than my backhand slice return," Federer said. "But it's part of an entire game that I have. It just came natural, I guess. It's also parts of maybe reading serves, reading service motions, reading ball tosses, having an idea where the guy is going to go, and then when I'm on the ball making it time and time again."
Photo credit: Laver Cup