Sportsmanship Moments at Roland Garros Over the Years

Tennis, just like any other sport is filled with heart-warming moments, and although they do not exchange t-shirts after their matches as often as they do in football, it is not a rarity to see sportsmanship during the matches. In the wake of Nicolas Almagro retiring at Roland Garros we take a look at some of he best moments that have taken place at Roland Garros, that put humanity and morality above the game of tennis.

5. Juan Martin Del Potro

We start of with the match between  Juan Martin del Potro and Nicolas Almagro, that took place in the second round of the French open this year. The match was equally poised at one set all and one game all when Almagro dropped to his knees after he failed to return a serve, nursing a left knee injury. He then started sobbing uncontrollably, and it was then that Del Potro showed us why he is adored wherever he goes on the tour. He consoled him all the way to the chair with his hand rubbing Almagro’s head and back trying to calm him down and even packed his bag up for him. Having been in the zone of injury himself, Del Potro knew exactly what Almagro was going through. He later on told the press, that he told Almagro to remember that there were more important things in his life than tennis right now, and that he would be better off, to focus his attention on his family and to picture his kids in his mind at that moment. Juan Martin Del Potro, who himself had to take anti-inflammatory medicine during the first set to nurse his groin injury, will face the out of form world no.1 Andy Murray, in a block-buster third round showdown later today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_NVAJvbEBo

4 . Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is often known for his sportsmanship, and his grace even in defeat. This time we take you back to the French open 2014, when a rain delay interrupted Novak’s match. Djokovic offered the ball boy who was holding an umbrella up for him, a seat right next to him, and later on when on to hold the umbrella himself, while he gave his racket to the ball boy.

3. Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka took on Victor Troicki, when Troicki had to take an injury time out. Wawrinka then asked a ball boy if he played tennis, and then offered his racket to him, and then started to play with him. Of-course his primary intention was to stay warm during the time out, but he sure made the ball boy’s day.

2. Guillermo Coria

Guillermo Coria, during the French open semi-final in 2003, threw his racket in a vain attempt to hit the ball with it, but it turned worse as the racket hit a standing ball boy. He then put his arms up in the air to apologize and then went on to offer the ball boy his T-shirt as well. He went on to loose the match, but he won plenty of hearts with his sportsmanship that day.

1. Tim Smyczek

Although this incident took place during the Australian Open 2015, this incident deserves a special mention in our article, simply because of the gravity of the situation, and also because it involved the nine time French open champion Rafael Nadal, who was pushed to he brink of defeat. Nadal was serving in the fifth set up 6-5, having just broken Tim, when a spectator cat-called just as Rafa was about to serve, which forced Rafa’s serve to sail long. But Tim Smyczek looked at the chair umpire and showed up two fingers suggesting that Rafa should have two serves. The sportsmanship was acknowledged by Rafa who showed him a thumbs up. Tim Smyczek then saved match points to break back but eventually ended up loosing the match, leaving Rafa to fall to the ground in elation as if he had won the ground slam itself. Rafa later adulated Tim Smyczek for his amazing sportsmanship, during his on court interview, going on to say that not many players would have done what he did, and that too at a moment when the match was tipping against him.