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Memorable ‘tweener lob helps Nadal get to US Open’s 4th Rd

Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot between his legs to Andrey Kuznetsov, of Russia, during the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot between his legs to Andrey Kuznetsov, of Russia, during the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns a shot between his legs to Andrey Kuznetsov, of Russia, during the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

By Associated Press 3 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The spectacular ‘tweener lob Rafael Nadal somehow conjured up to get to match point was so spectacular, he was asked whether he’d ever before hit a shot quite like that.

“Well, actually, yes,” Nadal said, nodding and laughing. “Not many times, but I remember one.”

This one certainly was memorable, providing quite a flourish at the end of a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory over 47th-ranked Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia on Friday night that put Nadal back in the U.S. Open’s fourth round for the first time since winning the 2013 title.

The owner of 14 Grand Slam trophies, including two at Flushing Meadows, Nadal hadn’t been to the fourth round at any major tournament since the 2015 French Open.

This season, he lost in the first round of the Australian Open. Then he pulled out of the French Open before his third-round match because of a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, an injury that forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon altogether and miss about 2½ months on tour in all.