Rafael Nadal looks healthy—and downright dangerous—in commanding win over Andrey Kuznetsov

NEW YORK—Coming into the U.S. Open, Rafael Nadal said that he wasn’t in top form. Nursing a left wrist injury, the Spaniard pulled out of the French Open mid-tournament and then skipped Wimbledon. He reached the semifinals at the Summer Games in Rio, but a week later lost to Borna Coric in Cincinnati in embarrassing fashion.

Sure, he was seeded fourth in Flushing Meadows, but it was unclear how much of an impact his wrist would allow him to have.

Five days and three rounds into the tournament, the 14-time Grand Slam champion looks pretty healthy—and awfully dangerous.

After routing Denis Istomin and Andreas Seppi in the first two rounds, respectively, Nadal again won in straight sets on Friday night, hammering Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Nadal jumped on the 25-year-old Russian in a hurry. Before many fans had a chance to take their seats for the night-session opener, the lefty had a commanding 5-0 lead over the world No. 47. Kuznetsov would get on the board in the sixth game before Rafa closed it out. It was evident from the very beginning that Nadal’s power and precision were just too much for his opponent.

Kuznetsov, who defeated Thomaz Bellucci and Albert Ramos-Vinolas to get to the third round, began the second set much better than he did the first. The Russian took the opening game, and the players traded the first six games before Kuznetsov jumped ahead for a 4-3 lead. But just as it appeared that Nadal might be in some trouble, the 30-year-old rattled off three consecutive games to essentially end Kuznetsov’s outside chance of pulling off an upset.

Kuznetsov took the opener of the third set, just as he did the second, but any momentum that gave him quickly dissipated. Rafa took six of the next seven games to seal the match and book a spot in the fourth round.

Forever the showman, the two-time U.S. Open champion brought the New York crowd to its feet in the final game of the match. Two points from victory, Nadal hit a brilliant tweener lob to get to match point. In true Nadal fashion, he pumped his fists and emphatically punched the air. In a match with little suspense, the iconic champion made sure the fans got their money’s worth.

There was a lot to like from Nadal’s performance on Friday. Six double faults aside, the veteran played a crisp, quality match, and he certainly looks like a legitimate contender to win a third U.S. Open title.

In the fourth round in Queens for the first time since 2013—he won it all that year, it’s worth noting—Nadal will play 24th-seeded Lucas Pouille on Sunday.