(AP) — Locked in a tight test at the U.S. Open, Rafael Nadal conjured up an over-the-shoulder, that he celebrated with a leap and punch of the air.

If that wasn’t the shot of the match, then surely this was, a couple of points later: a off an overhead by his opponent, 2014 champion Marin Cilic, good enough to earn a yell and four fist pumps from Rafa — along with in the Arthur Ashe Stadium stands. Then again, maybe it was the sprinting, sliding, bend-it-around-the-net-post forehand winner to get to match point, which Woods loved, too.

Rafa is looking healthy and hungry at Flushing Meadows so far, and he quickly broke things open against Cilic by seizing nine consecutive games for a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in the fourth round Monday night.

2019 US Open Tennis Tournament- Day Eight. Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Marin Cilic of Croatia in the Men’s Singles round four match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2nd, 2019 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a backhand against Marin Cilic of Croatia on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain in between points during his fourth round Men’s Singles match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eightof the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Chaz Niell/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Marin Cilic of Croatia on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a backhand against Marin Cilic of Croatia on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point during his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Marin Cilic of Croatia (L) shakes hands with Rafael Nadal of Spain after losing to him int heir Men’s Singles fourth round match on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

2019 US Open Tennis Tournament- Day Eight. Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to his incredible shot that set up match point against Marin Cilic of Croatia in the Men’s Singles round four match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2nd, 2019 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

2019 US Open Tennis Tournament- Day Eight. Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory against Marin Cilic of Croatia in the Men’s Singles round four match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2nd, 2019 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

2019 US Open Tennis Tournament- Day Eight. Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory against Marin Cilic of Croatia in the Men’s Singles round four match on Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2019 US Open Tennis Tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2nd, 2019 in Flushing, Queens, New York City. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning his Men’s Singles fourth round match against Marin Cilic of Croatia on day eight of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits autographed balls into the crowd after his victory over Marin Cilic of Croatia on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits autographed balls into the crowd after his victory over Marin Cilic of Croatia on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 02, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

Asked to explain that shot on the next-to-last point, Rafa chuckled a bit and said: “It’s easy to describe and difficult to make.”

“I hit it well,” Rafa said, “but to hit that spot, of course you need some luck.”

The 33-year-old Spaniard reached his ninth quarterfinal in New York and 40th at all major tournaments.

The No. 2-seeded Rafa, who retired from his 2018 semifinal at the U.S. Open with a knee injury, will try to get back to the final four by beating No. 20 Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals. Schwartzman advanced earlier Monday by eliminating No. 6 Alexander Zverev 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.

Against Cilic, who entered Monday with a 5-0 mark in fourth-round matches at Flushing Meadows, everything turned shortly after Rafa ceded a set for the first time in the tournament. As it is, he only had played two matches before this one, because his second-round opponent, Thanasi Kokkinakis, withdrew with a bad shoulder.

At 2-1 in the third set, with Cilic serving, Rafa came up with that no-look volley to begin things. After Cilic missed a shot, Nadal’s big backhand made it love-40. One double-fault later, that game was over — as, essentially, was the match.

Cilic simply never recovered.

They would go on to play for about another hour, and he managed to grab just two more games.

Source: AP