EPISODE 7
THE HAWK EYE
This episode will be orchestrated by Bjorn Borg, one of Roger’s close friends and to whom he is often compared, and will focus on studying Federer’s exceptional bio-mechanic.
Indeed, Roger has a very accurate sense of anticipation, amazing eyes and physical coordination. It is all these qualities that enabled him to invent a new kind of way to strike the ball during a serve return: a strike called the « sabr ». This strike also enabled him to win his 100th ATP tournament in Dubaï in 2019.
All of these information will give Sebastian Vettel - a real Federer lover - the occasion to participate a sort of « tribute-experiment » on the Abu Dhabi race circuit in honor of Roger’s « hawk eye » and sense of anticipation.
LOCATION
Dubai / Abu Dhabi
CHIEF OF MISSION
Bjorn Borg
THEME
anticipation, Roger’s eyes, taking risks
GIVER
Sebastian Vettel
TRIBUTE
F1 Trajectory experiment
GUESTS
Marc Hodgkinson, Thierry Omeyer, Bjorn Borg, Sebastian Vettel, Santoro
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
The voiceover gives Bjorn Born the mission to go and explore the episode’s theme in Dubai. Borg is a close friend of Roger and the two men have often been compared to one another, in their physical aptitudes.
First, Bjorn discovers Dubai which has become Roger’s official base camp during European winter season. Roger actually won the Dubai ATP 8th times and also his 100th tennis title there in 2019.
Borg discusses with Mark Hodgkinson, a journalist, writer, bio-tennis and Federer specialist. He will give us more details about Roger’s physical particularities. Indeed, on the contrary of a huge part of population (70%), Roger possesses what bio-analysts call a « crossed laterality » which means that he lines up his sight with his left directive eye in opposition with his right directive hand. This dissociation gives him great abilities on a bio-mechanical and cognitive level, but also generates a better use of the right part of the brain. This is the part of the brain linked to your emotion, intuition and creativity.
Roger’s eyes are as precise as the electronically arbitrary system called « Hawkeye » https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/watch-roger-federer-calls-his-own-service-out
It is all these particularities that enabled Federer to invent the SABR technique – Sneak Attack By Federer – or how to get the ball back when your opponent is serving. A tennis player reenacts the scene for us. Thanks to the numerous amount of cameras placed all over the court, we are fully capable of understanding the necessary amount of agility and balance that’s needed to be able to control a ball going that fast during a service.
With various archives, we will show how this trick progressively emerged in tennis competitions.
Best handball goalkeeper of all time Thierry Omeyer, accompanied by Fabrice Santoro – Roger’s close friend known for his reflexes – will go through an experiment, aiming at measuring the extraordinary bio-mechanical capacity of Federer, which allows him to cut and anticipate ball directions.
The episode ends with Sebastian Vettel – huge Roger fan and F1 champion – on the Abu Dhabi Formule 1 race circuit to pay an homage to his idol. This tribute will be an experiment on anticipation and trajectories.
