Watch This Little Girl Dominate a Tennis Match With Rafael Nadal, Ben Stiller & Juan Martin del Potro

All, Tennis, Video Stephen Douglas March 5th. 2013, 11:20am

Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro faced off in an exhibition match at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden last night. During the game, Nadal went into the stands and brought Ben Still onto the court. Not wanting to play 1-on-2, del Potro pulled a little girl from the audience to make it a mixed doubles match.

As the players take their places, Stiller tells the little girl she is going down. To the delight of the crowd she then returns her first volley from Nadal. Stiller continues to play the villain by dropping a shot over the net, only to be showered with boos. As the “match” continues, the girl continues to return volleys and even fires one at Stiller that he can’t even touch. That is enough. Standing ovation, a kiss from Rafael Nadal and back to her seat.

There are some pictures of the little girl celebrating below. Here is a view from the stands:

[h/t: @cartmaniak, Images via Getty]

aroundtheweb

32 Responses to “Watch This Little Girl Dominate a Tennis Match With Rafael Nadal, Ben Stiller & Juan Martin del Potro”

1
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:24 AM
that was really cool…awesome.
2
Nada Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:26 AM
She seems age-appropriate for Rory. Emotionally speaking, that is.
3
HtownHacker Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:27 AM
Nice.
By the way, it’s del Potro, not del Porto.
4
Shining Base Path Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:27 AM
reminds me of pippi longstocking’s day at the circus
/we’ve had all the fun we’re going to have
5
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:28 AM
She seems age-appropriate for Rory. Emotionally speaking, that is.
rory mcilroy = the tooth fairy
6
Nada Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:30 AM
By the way, it’s del Potro, not del Porto
If you’re going to nitpick over facts and proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, well then, you’ve come to the wrong website, my friend.
7
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:38 AM
OT…preach it tiger.
Q. When you’re going through swing changes in 2008 and 2004 and there was a lot of criticism, you didn’t really say anything too much about it, you just got to the end result instead. Is that hard not to fight back on the choice to change clubs?
TIGER WOODS: Well, that’s just because people don’t understand. Most of the people that are commentating or analyzing don’t understand the game of golf, so I didn’t have a problem with it.
Q. Is there a temptation at all to want to ‑‑
TIGER WOODS: Well, they don’t see it. They don’t see the range sessions and they don’t see the practice at home. Plus, they generally don’t understand the game, especially at this level.
amen. rory’s still a bitch, but far too many golf writers focus on human interest sides instead of the golf. there’s a distinct lack of quality golf knowledge in golf journalism these days…probably because a) writers have less access, b) writers have more professional demands and restrictions and c) they’re too lazy to find out.
i mean, there were more articles written about his relationship issues than the fact his swing is dogshit right now and he’s acting like a little bitch.
tho i think it’s strange tiger “didnt have a problem with it.” but i ascribe this thinking to, much like jack, tiger realizes rory’s a fragile lil mind who’ll wilt if he had to look tiger in the eye on a sunday.
8
squawkbox Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Did Nick Saban offer her a scholarship yet?
9
Shining Base Path Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Did Nick Saban offer her a scholarship yet?
he’s waiting for her to fall from a three-story window
10
squawkbox Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:42 AM
touché
11
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:43 AM
scripty…can you think of a tourney where rory really had to nut up and show some gumption? like tiger at the 1999 pga or, like, a million other times when he gutted out a win with his C+ game?
only thing i can think of is how he and lee westwood traded haymakers at the 2012 wgc match play when he had that determined look on his face the whole time after westwood said some shit about him in the press. didnt think he “overcame” anything after his masters’ implosion…he had 2 months, a course set up ideally for him and the fortune of having rain drench the place earlier that week.
12
Shining Base Path Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:43 AM
touché
i always see ‘touchy’
13
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:46 AM
When I hear any of the golf pros mentioning how they’ve been playing tennis on the side, that’s a good sign. Tennis and swimming are among two of the best things if you golf.
14
s1rweeze Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:46 AM
I love this. Also, Del Potro’s a friggin giant
15
s1rweeze Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:50 AM
only thing i can think of is how he and lee westwood traded haymakers at the 2012 wgc match play when he had that determined look on his face the whole time after westwood said some shit about him in the press.
Come on, it’s Lee Westwood. If he’s anywhere near contention on a weekend, he’s missing at least three 8-foot par putts. That’s his specialty.
16
The White Frank White Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:50 AM
doesnt del potro look like the guy from homeland/band of brothers?
17
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:53 AM
Come on, it’s Lee Westwood. If he’s anywhere near contention on a weekend, he’s missing at least three 8-foot par putts. That’s his specialty.
yea, but you can count on him to hit like 14 greens…plus, that match was personal. tehy both wanted it sooooo bad.
/i like lee westwood…exceptional driver, but even he, one of the best on tour, looked like babytown frolic next to rory.
18
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:54 AM
i guess I dont view Rory as a finished project. I think there’s a lesson in evaluating a guy on his own merit, and just seeing him as what he does well. He’s the BMW who can go low anywhere and has some big wins already. He’s got some edge but due to his place in the game, he gets doffed as weak (b/c nobody is a killa like Tiger) which I’d also subscribe as inaccurate.
I dont like the quitting. Terrible trait and gets easier every time you do it. I’ll wait and see how he progresses and if he repeats.
Honestly, best thing for him is to fly around the world, play golf, and figure out where to compartmentalize everything over the next 2-6 years. His human side, where I see him do cool things like spend time in Haiti, gets exposed equally when he does fun things like hang with his girlfriend.
I dont think I need him to be like Tiger and frankly I am not waiting for it. I’ve seen a completely different arc (I’ve long said I see an arc of success like Seve, – 5-7 majors early on and then it’ll cool down.) Watch a guy like Keegan Bradley, guy tries to ball so hard every damn minute, he’s going to burn out and be used up in a few years.
19
TheRealAC Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:55 AM
rory’s still a bitch
i absolutely hate the way he carries himself. he does not act like a pro to me. he’s always got his shoulders hunched over and is always like dragging his clubs behind him as he walks up the fairway. this dude needs a sack ASAP.
20
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:57 AM
i guess I dont view Rory as a finished project. I think there’s a lesson in evaluating a guy on his own merit, and just seeing him as what he does well.
i dont see him as a finished product, but he’s been a pro for six years now. he aint no spring chicken either.
and i do evaluate him on his own merit. ive said MANY times, i dont think there’s another golfer on the planet with his skill set. i think he’s talented enough to be THE all time great, yes, even moreso than tiger or jack.
he’s a cool dude, and i dont hate him personally, but…well, i guess you’re right. he’s not a finished product.
Watch a guy like Keegan Bradley, guy tries to ball so hard every damn minute, he’s going to burn out and be used up in a few years.
couldnt agree more…and i really like keegan too.
21
ms621 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:01 PM
You know what golfer really knew how to carry himself? Lee Carvallo.
22
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:01 PM
What I like currently, is the Tour is showing there are many ways to win. Rory goes big game hunting and throws to low 60s up and uses that to walk home easily. Some guys out there putting the pill and a few playing monster mash. I mean when we look back how many guys in my life will I see win with their C games more than once or twice. I think that’s the thing. Tiger. Winning on the PGA Tour with your C game is this white buffalo that Dan Hicks makes it sound like everybody can conjure when needed.
23
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:03 PM
he’s always got his shoulders hunched over and is always like dragging his clubs behind him as he walks up the fairway. this dude needs a sack ASAP.
Not saying this hasnt happened but I havent seen it. Lot of people think he does the shoulders-back/peacock strut too much.
24
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:04 PM
spencer I was banging on some conventional thoughts to his game not you particulary.
25
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:06 PM
phil’s another who wins with his C-game a lot…when he brings the heat, he’s hard as hell to go up against. ernie and tiger know all about that.
i think we’re on the same page regarding the current tour…you gotta show up in top form to win these days. tour’s too deep.
also, dan hicks makes my ears bleed.
26
spencer096 Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:08 PM
spencer I was banging on some conventional thoughts to his game not you particulary.
no doubt…much like i bang on conventional tiger/rory comparisons. not singling your opinion out, just wanted your thoughts on tiger’s thing above and rory in general. it’s a really interesting debate…there are a lot of parallels between rory and lebron. lebron matured quite nicely, id say (decision aside)…we’ll see if rory can handle the same thing.
it’d be great to see rory get serious and start nuking the tour. he’s DEFINITELY got the game for it. i mean, shit, i hate on him all the time, but good god the kid can flat out play.
27
GloriousMullet Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:08 PM
He should’ve given her the racket.
28
arkbadger Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Tennis and swimming are among two of the best things if you golf.
I played tennis with my brother last summer and fucked my elbow up in a bad way.
29
arkbadger Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:14 PM
lebron matured quite nicely
he still wears glasses without frames in them
30
scripty Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:16 PM
He’s improved his putting and chipping quite a bit (2012 version, anyway). He was doing some amazing saves last year, as evidenced in Tuscon and the Honda and KI. I think that shows he’s coming along.
Not to be the golf doctor, I think he just needs to play a lot, get sick of it, properly compartmentalize his view of the Tour and then plot how he manages his game. That’s only going to come with time.
Nicklaus would play tournaments with an inappropriate ball flight prepping for a major, or practicing too much with the R&A ball before an Open. When Rory puts some of that together he’ll be better served. But he will always be missing some cuts, just looks like part of his DNA.
31
Nada Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:26 PM
Now I’m getting moderated?
32
ohheelyeah Says:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:44 PM
make a wish?