'Shot of the year!': Muchova's leaping, behind-the-back lob stuns at US Open

Karolina Muchova is no stranger to hot shots, and the Czech was at it again in the first round of the US Open.

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Leading Katie Volynets 4-1 in the first set, Muchova found herself on the defensive after a fine serve out wide from the American. With Muchova haring across to cover the deuce court, Volynets opted to wrong-foot her by slamming the overhead behind her, through the middle of the court.

It takes more than that to outfox Muchova, though. The former World No.8 reached behind her, leapt up in the air and somehow managed to flick a no-look, behind-the-back lob off Volynets' smash. It landed square on Volynets's baseline. Volynets managed to retrieve it, but Muchova made no mistake with her own overhead, and went on to close out a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

"I kind of overran the ball and tried to get it somehow on the other side," Muchova said. "A little bit of luck. You don't practice these shots, it just happens."

Watch the incredible play below:

After reaching the Roland Garros final and US Open semifinals in a career-best 2023 season, Muchova was sidelined for 10 months due to wrist surgery, and her ranking is now down at No.52. She returned in June, and made the Palermo final the following month. This year's US Open is the sixth tournament of her comeback, and her second round promises to be a blockbuster: Muchova will face former World No.1 Naomi Osaka, who defeated No.10 seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-2. The pair have split two previous meetings, with Osaka winning 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the 2020 Western & Southern Open and Muchova turning the tables 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in the second round of Madrid 2021.