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US Open 2017: Rafael Nadal makes triumphant return to quarterfinals

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their third round Men's Singles match on Day Six of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 02: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during their third round Men's Singles match on Day Six of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 2, 2017 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Rafael Nadal has made it back to the quarterfinals at the US Open. That result is more significant—and surprising—than one might assume.

2017 has been a resurgent year for Rafael Nadal. After struggling to overcome a laundry list of injuries, the 31-year-old has returned to his perch as the world No. 1, won his 15th career Grand Slam title, and reached multiple Grand Slam finals.

While that may instill the belief that his appearance in the quarterfinals of the 2017 US Open is none too surprising, that’s far from the case.

Nadal dropped the first set in two of his first three matches at the 2017 US Open. He dominated from thereon out, but it was a troubling display of the inconsistency that fans have been reluctant to accept as an expectation for the injury-plagued legend.

In the fourth round of 2017’s final Grand Slam, however, Nadal was nothing short of dominant in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov.

It was a beautiful showing in the purest of senses, but it was also a wonderful opportunity for Nadal to exorcise his demons.

This is the first time since 2013 that Nadal has reached the quarterfinals of the US Open. It may be a continuation of a brilliant year in 2017, but Nadal bowed out in the fourth round in 2016, the third round in 2015, and was absent in 2014.

Moreover, Nadal failed to reach the quarterfinals at any Grand Slam event between Wimbledon in 2015 and the US Open in 2016—a stretch of six tournaments.

That admittedly includes his injury absence from Wimbledon in 2016, but the streak existed nonetheless.

Nadal is now one step closer to making his third Grand Slam final of the 2017 calendar year. He’s also one step closer to his third career US Open crown, which would give him 16 career Grand Slam titles.

Nadal is already second all-time in Grand Slam titles won, but his 16th piece of hardware would pull him to within three of Roger Federer’s record 19.

Must Read: American tennis is alive and well at the 2017 US Open

After years of injuries that prevented him from realizing his true greatness, Rafael Nadal is back in the quarterfinals of the US Open.

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