Best Hot Shots of 2018: No. 6, Thiem the Nadal tamer

As the year draws to close, Baseline remembers the shots that showed off players' skills, tenacity, and luck all through the season. From backhands to volleys to two-minute rallies, these are the best hot shots of 2018. Here's No. 6:

6

Dominic Thiem is considered the world's second-best clay-court player. This year, in the quarterfinals of Madrid, the Austrian proved his status by defeating Rafael Nadal, 7-5, 6-3. From the first set, the match seemed to be going Thiem's way, especially after overcoming a barrage of powerful groundstrokes by sprinting to a drop shot and nailing a backhand down-the-line winner.