We've all had dreams of playing with the greats. Being pointed at from the crowd and told to gear up and get ready. But for Ben Stiller, it didn't go exactly to plan.

Stiller appeared on Jimmy Fallon last night to promote his new thriller show 'Severance' on Apple TV+. While chatting away, the two got on the topic of sports. Stiller mentioned his love of the Olympics and his experience sparring with boxing great Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini.

But it was his tennis-related tale that stole the show. One which involved Rafael Nadal, Juan Martín 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 then pulled out of the crowd by Nadal to massive cheers.

"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."

However, things went downhill when Del Potro picked an eight-year-old girl out of the crowd 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."

However, it wasn't all bad. In Stiller's mind, there's still room for a comeback performance.

"The good thing that came out of this is that I resolved to become the best tennis player in the world. If it ever happens in life that someone pulls me out of the crowd to play tennis with them, which will probably never happen again."

"And the little girl I want a rematch with."

You can watch the full interview below. And if you're curious, the whole tennis incident is available to view on YouTube.