by Ed Toombs
Tennis On the Line
March 15, 2024

Agustin Calleri (22) def. Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (12-10)
Third round
Court 6
Previous head-to-head: First meeting

A small band of cognoscenti out on court 6 had the pleasure of watching the match of the tournament so far. In a stirring encounter, Argentina�s Agustin Calleri needed seven match points, and had to save two, before subduing the feisty Spanish teen Rafael Nadal (pictured at right) after 2 hours and 38 minutes of high-octane slugging.

Rafael Nadal has made himself the talk of the tour with his rapid ascent to the top 50 at the tender age of 17. The kid from Mallorca is remarkable to watch in action. Strongly built for his age, Nadal is also swift, and has the kind of savage intensity that can only be compared to Lleyton Hewitt. Grunting loudly with each shot as if he despises the ball, Nadal possesses a terrific, lashing forehand, and is capable of spectacular winners on the run. His enthusiastic on-court demeanour is also entertaining, as he celebrates his exploits with fist-pumping gestures and cries of �Vamos!�

Today Nadal was up against an opponent with a huge game and steely, if less noisy, determination that matched his own. Calleri had needed to produce a very high level of tennis to subdue Robin Soderling in three long sets yesterday, and we wondered if he would have the resources to produce the same kind of performance on another hot afternoon. He certainly did.

Calleri hammered his returns of Nadal�s still-suspect serves with abandon, constantly worrying his young opponent�s service games. And he stepped into the ball smartly to hit cracking winners, particularly with his smooth but potent one-handed backhand. One thing we noticed today was that Calleri will sometimes hit high backhands while raising his back foot in the air. We see some players who employ the two-hander, such as Marat Safin and Marcelo Rios, do this, but we can�t recall seeing another one-handed player hit skipping backhands before.

Each of the first two sets was decided by one break of serve. Calleri was getting plenty of break chances, and he finally took advantage of a sixth break point of the first set at 3-3, 15-40, by breaking up a hard-hitting rally with a drop shot that Nadal sprinted down, but could not lift over the net.

In the second set Nadal was in danger of going down a set and a break at 2-2, 0-40, but he fought back and saved the game after 2 deuces. Then it was Calleri�s turn to get in trouble in the following game. Nadal made good on his chance with what our informant (arguably Rafael�s biggest fan), described as a �beautiful cross-court angle�. Nadal held confidently the rest of the way to level the match.

It was a lot to ask of a match this good to get even better, but in the third set it did. Nadal was often forced to retrieve Calleri�s mighty blows with spectacular scrambling, and he was capable of putting the Argentine in trouble with his own whipping forehands. The intense, high-quality, all-court tennis was a treat to watch.

At 5-5 of the third, Nadal notched a key break of serve in the most spectacular of fashions, unleashing a lunging forehand passing shot. On the seat of his pants, Nadal pumped his fists and screamed excitedly. With Nadal now serving for the match at 6-5, Calleri dug in his heels, and at 15-30 played a perfect forehand approach and drop volley to set up a double break point. The Argentine made good on his second chance when Nadal sent a running backhand beyond the baseline.

So to the tie-break we go to decide the match. Serving at 2-3, Nadal played two poor service points, losing them on backhand errors. Calleri then won his next two service points, and it was 6-2, quadruple match point for the Argentine. Nadal, fighting like a demon and grunting furiously, refused to go down. He saved the first match point with a cross-court forehand pass; on the second, the kid got a short ball and nailed a forehand winner with a scream; on the third, Calleri attacked the net, feathered a drop volley that Nadal ran down, and with both men at net Nadal won a nose-to-nose reflex volley exchange; on the fourth, Calleri again wanted to come in behind his forehand, but his approach shot was slightly mis-hit and it sailed long. Calleri wasted four match points, but only the fourth could be considered his fault.

We pick up the final tie-break at 6-6.

AC serving: Another Calleri approach shot� Nadal is forced to hit a stunning stretch lob that lands on Calleri�s baseline, Calleri runs it down and sends it back. Nadal has a backhand winner on his racquet but drives it into the net! 7-6 Calleri, match point #5.

RN: Calleri goes to net yet again. Nadal hits a perfect topspin lob, and the crowd erupts. 7-7.

RN: Calleri dominates a baseline rally, gets a short ball and cracks a forehand winner. 8-7 Calleri, match point #6.

AC: Calleri tightens up, hitting a forehand well long, and shakes his head at all these lost chances. 8-8.

AC: Calleri gets to net again, but dumps a backhand volley half way up the net. 9-8, first match point for Nadal.

RN: Nadal gets a short return from Calleri, has a forehand winner on his racquet, but nets it. 9-9

RN: Calleri mis-hits a forehand that lands wide. 10-9 Nadal, match point #2.

AC: Nadal runs down a Calleri drop volley but pushes his stretching reply just wide. 10-10.

AC: Calleri wrong-foots Nadal, who makes an acrobatic, spinning recovery. But it lands short, and Calleri confidently comes in to nail the overhead. 11-10 Calleri, match point #7.

RN: An anticlimactic finish: Nadal dumps a routine backhand into the net. Game, set and match Calleri, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (12-10).

Calleri had been appreciative of Nadal throughout the contest, saying �Buena!� after his fine shots, and he gave the kid a hug after the match. The small crowd stood and applauded both players, as if to thank them for this brilliant match won by the narrowest of margins. Calleri won 109 total points, to 107 to Nadal. In the end Calleri needed every bit of his versatility, powerful shot-making skill and class to prevail.

As for Nadal, who at age 17 is already a dangerous opponent for anyone, he confirmed his great potential. With more experience, a steadier backhand and a more penetrating serve (he hit zero aces over three long sets), he should soon be contending for Grand Slam titles. Perhaps sooner than we think�