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Pablo Cuevas Hits Crazy No-Look Winner at Madrid Open

Who needs eyes? Not Pablo Cuevas.

There's something about the correlation between age and experience that seems to be working in Pablo Cuevas's favor right here. The 31-year-old Argentine-born Uruguayan went up against spunky German upstart Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Open today, and completely outclassed him on the clay.

Yes, please take a look at this winner above. In it, we can see Cuevas stretched deep into the backcourt on a dead sprint to find even a whisper of a shot after playing the net. Instead of trying to right his posture to get a backhand, he just coyly flicks the racket down under his wrist to slap the ball into an unmentionable region of the court—all without even glancing back. Everyone—especially Zverev—is stunned. Cuevas just nonchalantly points to the sky, head hung low, contemplating his next miracle. This is clearly the undisputed highlight of the match.

But also notice the shot before—Cuevas's get at the net. Zverev's trying to show the old man that he can cook up an absurd amount of spin when he wants to, and sends Cuevas a lethal slice into the near corner. But Cuevas makes quick steps to cradle the racket just under the ball for a gentle lift over the net. He also calculates the slide-time on the clay, to give himself at least decent positioning for the miracle shot described above. That court knowledge can only come with time. Like a fine Argentine Malbec, age looks good on you, Cuevas.

h/t Deadspin