Video: Nadal’s Jaw-Dropping Backhand Pass

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Video: Nadal’s Jaw-Dropping Backhand Pass

During last night’s 7-5, 6-3 victory over Pablo Carreno Busta in Rio, Rafael Nadal demonstrated the proper way to make your opponent feel that no matter what they do they’ll always be playing second fiddle to you.

Rio: Spirited Carreno Busta Gives Nadal a Run for His Money

Watch as Nadal, backed into a corner by his aggressive and talented compatriot, sticks the flat backhand pass, sending it zooming past a helpless Carreno Busta. It's true, and particularly on clay: When you face Nadal, one minute you’re in the driver’s seat, the next you’re being thrown out the window, sent tumbling into the bushes on the side of the road.

Most remarkable about this backhand is the way that Nadal contorts his body, using great physical dexterity and force, and still manages to hit the ball square and time the ball perfectly. His right foot slides into the shot, and plants, while the rest of his trunk turns to get the racquet ready for the shot before springing into contact. The swing is compact, but the ball flies off the racquet because it is hit square, and timed perfectly so that there is very little spin.

Nadal would probably like to have the forehand that gave his opponent the opportunity to attack back, but as far as the response goes, this was a bona fide jaw-dropper if there ever was one.

Want to see more? Nadal faces off against Pablo Cuevas in the Rio quarterfinals later today…

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