The sportsmanship that ‘amazed’ Nadal
American qualifier Tim Smyczek pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets in his second round loss to the Spaniard last night but that wasn’t his most astonishing act on the court.
The world No.112 took everyone by surprise when he won the match’s first two sets, but in the fifth, with Nadal serving for the match at 6-5 and 30-0 up Smyczek produced a refreshing show of sportsmanship.
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As Nadal was in his ball toss a spectator yelled out loudly, throwing the 14-time grand slam champ off, forcing him to fault.
Nadal struggled through his second-round tussle but benefited from some impressive sportsmanship. Photo: Getty
While the umpire chose to let the fault stand, Smyczek intervened by calling for the fault to be void and for Rafa to replay his first serve.
This gave the ‘King of Clay’ three match points which Smyczek fought back from, but after the fourth one Nadal triumphed 6-2 3-6 6-7 (7-2) 3-6 7-5 after four hours and 12 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
“He’s a gentleman. Not a lot of people would do something like that,” Nadal explained.
“What he did at the end of the fifth was just amazing.”
The Milwaukee native Smyczek says it was an easy choice to make.
“It clearly bothered him. You know, I thought it was the right thing to do,” the 27-year-old said.
The world No. 3 looked jaded and weak at times during the encounter and there were real fears he would suffer his worst ever exit at the Australian Open.
Nadal has been working to regain full fitness and touch in the lead up to the season’s first Grand Slam after he missed the 2014 US Open with a wrist injury.
He made the final of the 2014 Australian Open but lost to Stanislas Wawrinka but went onto win the 2014 French Open, his ninth Roland Garros crown.