Kristina Mladenovic executes the backward between-the-legs shot to perfection at the US Open

Between-the-leg tennis shots are extraordinary. You often don’t see them coming and when you finally get to marvel at the players’ athletic prowess, you still can’t possibly fathom the expertise as you watch it for the first time.

But not all between-the-leg shots are created equal -- just ask Kristina Mladenovic at the US Open. Not only does she get the shot off, she’s doing it with her back to the net. Such limited vision can only be attributed to muscle memory. We bet she can pull this off with her eyes closed, to be honest.

That sort of determination can only be described as a combination of “finish” and “punish.”