Rafael Nadal news: Actor Ben Stiller speaks about playing tennis with Spaniard
Many of us have had dreams of playing the tennis alongside and against greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. For most of us who are not gifted, that will not happen, well not unless you are a celebrity or actor.
Actor Ben Stiller recently appeared on Jimmy Fallon to promote his new thriller show ‘Severence’ that is being featured on Apple TV.
Stiller discussed his tennis experienced which featured himself, Nadal, Juan Martin Del Potro and an eight year old girl.
“I got to know [Nadal] a little bit about 7 or 8 years ago,” said Stiller. “He invited me a few years back to see an exhibition match at Madison Square Garden which was really exciting.
“We got to sit in the front row. It was him and Juan Martin Del Potro another amazing Argentinian player. And about halfway through the match, Nadal stops and he goes ‘Wait, should we make it doubles?'”
Stiller was called out from the crowd which naturally led to the crowd exploding with excitement.
“It’s like a dream come true to be in Madison Square Garden and people start cheering and it’s also this nightmare that’s happening simultaneously, because I realise I really don’t play tennis.”
Rafael Nadal news: Spanish wizard says Medvedev will become no 1
Stiller was soon to be humbled after Del Potro asked an eight-year-old girl in attendence to be his doubles partner.
“Immediately I just died inside because I knew there was no way to get out of this thing. Because if I hit a winner on the eight year old girl everybody hates me and I don’t have enough skill to hold it back because I’m all or nothing.
“So Nadal serves it and the girl hits it back perfectly across the net, the crowd cheers. It comes to me, boom, right into the net. Basically we played four more points, every time the girl hits it, every time I hit it back into the net.
“And Del Potro puts the girl on his shoulders, they’re cheering. I didn’t make eye contact with Nadal, my wife, anybody.”
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