Rafael Nadal (1986-), Mallorcan Tennis Player, and the Greatest Clay Court Player in History

[DonRocks]

This is so amazing that it needs commentary. It's Nadal vs. The Stalker:

The Stalker gets ready to hit a heavy topspin serve:

And kicks it out wide to Nadal's backhand, stepping in to stalk a short return:

Nadal is pulled wide, and stretches to hit a backhand return, The Stalker is one-step closer in:

Nadal is now *backwards* after hitting his return. The Stalker closes in even more:

Nadal gets it back, and starts sprinting to the other side of the court, while The Stalker prepares to hit a volley:

The Stalker wisely goes *behind* Nadal, who has committed to sprinting across the court, forcing Nadal to apply the brakes:

Two words are going through Nadal's mind right now: "Oh, fuck."

But Nadal is Nadal, and somehow gets his racket on the ball:

And Nadal sends it cross-court, The Stalker moving accordingly, and Nadal beginning to change direction again:

Oh, if The Stalker could have only kept this volley a foot lower:

The slow, red clay lets the ball bounce high, giving Nadal barely enough time to get there:

But can only scoop the ball up - once again, Nadal is at The Stalker's mercy:

The Stalker steps around to hit a backhand out wide, sending Nadal on another impossible sprint:

And I mean, Nadal is in *big* trouble, but do you see the mistake The Stalker is making here? Look at that hole on the left side:

I've seen this shot several times, and I'm *still* not sure how Nadal is hitting it, but he somehow gets it back on one bounce, facing backwards:

"Oh ... fuck ...":

But, oh my God, The Stalker is lining up for something incredible:

Yes! A between-the-legs shot with Nadal pulled off the court!

But no, not even The Stalker can pull this one off. It's Nadal's point.