NEW YORK — Karolina Muchova might have hit the best shot of the 2024 U.S. Open on the second day.
There have been lobs with perfect placement. Tweeners that turn into winners. Then there’s what Muchova did: a jumping, behind-the-back lob from almost touching the back wall, in a point the Czech ultimately won en route to her 6-3, 7-5 victory over nominatively determinist American Katie Volynets.
The astonishing shot occurred when Muchova led 4-1 over Volynets in the first set. With Volynets serving 40-15, Muchova was already put on the defense right from the service return. She lunged to the right, hitting a short-ball forehand back to Volynets. The American blasted a forehand to the far corner, forcing Muchova on the run. Muchova got to the ball, flicking a one-handed lob to Volynets near the net.
It seemed like a sure overhead smash winner for Volynets. Until it wasn’t.
As Volynets positioned her overhead, she aimed to the middle. She could’ve hit toward the left side of the court, but Muchova was running to her right, meaning she would have had a chance to play the ball. By Volynets hitting her smash in the middle of the court, she wanted to hit the ball behind Muchova.
Volynets’ smash was hit with solid pace. As it reared up off the court, Muchova ran first in front, then past it — the point looked over.
Until it wasn’t.
Muchova didn’t just hit a behind-the-back lob. And she didn’t just hit a jumping behind-the-back lob. She hit a jumping behind-the-back lob because jumping was the only way to do it — leaping across the court was all she could do to give herself sufficient spacing to bring her arm and racket around to meet the ball, showing incredible wrist stability to loft it over Volynets. This is a player who returned from wrist surgery in May.
Volynets, quickly turned from attack to defense, had to scramble herself and floated up a short ball that Muchova dispatched.
The 28-year-old pumped her fist, smiled and stuck her tongue out briefly, recognizing the magnitude of the remarkable shot she hit.
Muchova made the U.S. Open semifinal last year before losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff. Currently ranked world No 52, she has to play the winner of Naomi Osaka and Jelena Ostapenko in the second round, but her behind-the-back lob will live on in the tennis highlight reels forever.
(Top photo: U.S. Open / YouTube)
