Rafael Nadal Hits A Perfectly Placed Lob From Between His Legs, Just Because He Can

Here's Rafa just havin' some fun on his home court at the Madrid Open yesterday, in his straight-set loss to Novak Djokovic. This is the "statement shot" of tennis; like basketball's behind-the-back pass or soccer's nutmeg, its sole purpose is to say, without saying it, "look at what I can do." On a retreat to the baseline to save a shot that should have, by all means, been a winner. We will borrow from the announcer here and agree that this play was "phenome-Nadal," and then we will pledge to never ever say that again ever. But, really: phenomenal. Djokovic Tops Nadal in Another Final [AP]