A triumphant bellow of “Vamos!” and a fist punching the air signalled Martin Vassallo Arguello's unbelievable comeback victory over Alexander Peya yesterday.

As his opponent's wild backhand sailed into oblivion over the baseline, the 24-year-old winner's smile matched the sparkling afternoon sunshine in brilliance as he savoured advancing to the XL Capital Bermuda Open's quarter-finals in dramatic fashion.

At 5-2 down in the decisive third set, and with his body language saying “It's all yours” to Peya, the well-toned Argentina-born Italian miraculously and stunningly found another gear to banish the proverbial fat lady into the wings just as she was clearing her throat.

In the 20 minutes that followed, Arguello reeled off a succession of dazzling and deft shots, displaying the full repertoire of his arsenal, which - while evident in the first set and parts of the second - had mysteriously abandoned him when he needed it most.

Suddenly he had it all - cross-court top-spin forehands, smashes, serve-and-volley combinations, smart drop shots and, leading his desperate charge, his trusted backhand, especially down the line.

The result: an amazing 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 resurrection which brought spectators to their feet in admiration after the near three-hour spectacle which kept centre court rapt.

“In the first set he was not serving very high so I could return well but in the second and third (sets) he put a lot of pressure on me, serving and volleying, and that made me a little uncomfortable.

“He was very good in the third set and I was getting some returns which I played very well. When I was down at 5-2 I had to risk a lot and I was very lucky that all the shots I tried went in, otherwise you would be speaking with the other guy,” said Arguello, clearly able to joke now his fortunes were a fairytale.

In what was truly a match of attrition - with each player requiring a medical time-out - the momentum see-sawed one way and then the other at key moments. The opening set remained on serve until the crucial ninth game when Arguello broke his rival with a trademark backhand that sizzled cross-court for a 5-4 lead; a helpless Peya diving in futility to try and keep the decisive point alive.

The tempo and tension was much the same in the second set with the score level at 5-5. Peya then held with a forehand volley winner at net to nose ahead 6-5. A nervous service game by Arguello then gifted his Austrian rival with a break point to seal the set and Arguello surrendered meekly by double-faulting.

Early and incisive aggression by a focused Peya reaped handsome dividends in the third set with Arguello making a host of unforced errors as he wilted under the pressure and intense heat; his serve broken twice in successive games.

The rampage seemed destined to continue in Peya's favour but, with the match almost in his grasp, he suddenly found the balls coming back at him harder, quicker and in a greater variety of strokes - and he had few answers to the questions being asked of his ability.

In five straight games, Arguello swept past him to an unlikely conquest.

“I felt like the match was over already,” admitted 23-year-old Peya when asked about his mindset at 5-2 up in the deciding set.

“That was the mistake with me. I was 5-2…it should have been automatic but I played too badly today.”

The loser, who had prevailed in his only previous encounter against Arguello, took the beating like a man, noting that while he requested medical attention for a back problem in the second set he would not blame that for defeat.

“It's my fault. My whole game wasn't there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Arguello noted his quarter-final could be the biggest match of his career if he comes up against Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

“If Lapentti wins I will have the toughest match of my life. I've never played against a top-20 guy and I think it will be very difficult for me. I feel comfortable in this tournament but it's very tough.

Also exiting the tournament in a second-round shock was 2001 winner, 21-year-old Jose Acasuso, who succumbed at the hands of Argentine compatriot Franco Squillari.

In an anti-climactic conclusion to a strange match, Acasuso netted a forehand on his own serve just as on-lookers were beginning to anticipate a tie-breaker finale. That unforced error propelled Squillari into the last eight with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win.

The 2001 Bermuda Open champion declined comment on an erratic performance which saw him being blown off court in the first set; playing inspired tennis in the second and matching Squillari game for game in the third before his fatal service break at 6-5 down.

However, 28-year-old Squillari was not lost for words despite being breathless from a mixture of exertion and excitement.

“I feel so good. It's my first victory against Acasuso. Before this, he beat me four times,” said the South American southpaw. “To be mentally good, you know, strong was the thing for me. I'm so happy to reach the quarters and I think my chances are very good because Acasuso was one of the best in the draw.”