Best Sportsmanship Moments in Tennis

A quick YouTube search for ‘best sportsmanship moments in tennis’ will return a collection of videos that show some of our generations most celebrated players showing graciousness even in defeat. If you’re a tennis fan, then you will appreciate these videos and will find it hard not to smile while watching them.

One of the more recent moments of sportsmanship happened at the Hopman Cup match. Jack Sock of the United States and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia. Hewitt served and the ball was called out. Hewitt was about to take his second serve and readies his tennis racket,but Sock stopped him, saying the ball was in and asked him to challenge the call. Hewitt appeared shocked to hear Sock say this but agreed and challenged the call.

Sock already conceded the point according to the chair umpire, but they went to the board anyway and there it was—the ball was in. The delighted crowd applauded. The match was won by Hewitt, but it was Sock’s sportsmanship moment that was even more memorable.

And then there’s the much-told story of Tim Smyczek and Rafael Nadal. Smyczek—a relatively unknown American qualifier—is on center court against Nadal, who is beyond doubt one of the greatest tennis players in the world. The game has been going on for four hours and the heat was oppressive. Spectators are on the edge of their seats.

Put yourself in Smyczek’s shoes. The pressure must have been intense. He was, after all, playing against a tennis great.

At 30-0, Nadal prepares a serve to win the match. He tosses the ball up, but someone in the crowd screamed out and he faults.Smyczek could have sniffed an opportunity for a second serve so he can get back into the game, but he instead tells Nadal to replay the point. For everyone watching, it was an incredible moment of sportsmanship during one of the most intense games of the American player’s career. The audience responded warmly; Smyczek received a standing ovation as he left the court after succumbing to Nadal.