It’s crazy how one moment can define a four-hour tennis battle. It’s also crazy that that moment did not involve a point lost or won.
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It was a gesture from Tim Smyczek that portrayed the kind of sportsmanship one dreams to see regularly in the world of professional sport but one which sadly remains an anomaly.
World No3 Rafael Nadal was in a dreadful state. He was stuck in a five-set marathon with the American Smyczek – an affair which saw him struggle with dizzy spells, stomach cramps, and a near on-court throwing up session.
Nadal was in terrible condition yet somehow he found a window and was serving at 0-30 at 6-5 in the final set.
Someone from the crowd interrupted his serve and the Spaniard hit a fault. Instead of benefitting from a second serve that could possibly help him get a break point, Smyczek asked the umpire to give Nadal his first serve once again. In Smyczek’s own simple terms it “clearly bothered Rafa” and it was just “the right thing to do”.
Nadal never looked back and closed out the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-7(2), 6-3, 7-5 but he was in awe of his opponent’s sportsmanship.
“I want to congratulate Tim. Because he’s really a gentleman, what he did in the last game. Not a lot of people will do something like that at 6-5 in the fifth. He played a great match,” were Nadal’s first words on court after he won.
“He’s a great example, what he did today,” said the 14-time major champion. “At the end, it should not be surprising, but it is surprising. It is very difficult to make it and he did it, so just congratulate him.”
Known to be an absolute power horse on court and famous for his ability to fight for days, Nadal looked like a broken man and his emotional reaction to his win said it all. He was almost in tears.
“At the end of the first set, I start to feel my body very bad, very tired. I don’t know. I was worrying crazy. Then when I was serving for the third, almost throw up. So was terrible feeling,” explained the 2009 champion.
“I suffered too much on court for three hours and a half. Too much. Was not fun today the way that the match was.
“I feel lucky to have the chance to finish the match, and then to find a way to win.”
Smyczek, who not only won many fans because of his gentlemanly conduct at the end but due to the remarkable tennis he showed in the face of an ailing opponent, admits Nadal was far from his best.
“That was really special tonight. It was pretty clear Rafa didn’t have his best stuff. But it just shows the kind of player, the kind of champion he is because he was sick and not playing well,” said the American qualifier.
“That was his C or D game. He found a way to win. So hats off to him. That’s why he’s one of the best.
Wow, Maria Sharapova and Rafa Nadal both dug deep and found ways to win. Not sure there have been better competitors in any sport.
— Nick Bollettieri (@NickBollettieri) January 21, 2015
Nadal’s dramatic match made Roger Federer’s mysterious pain in his finger pale in comparison, the Swiss wondering if he was stung by a bee during his four-set win over Italian Simone Bolelli earlier in the day.
Bolelli, who entered the match with a 0-33 record against top-10 opponents sent out a shocking signal when he took the first set from Federer but the world No2 responded well to take a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win and set up a third round with another Italian, Andreas Seppi.
“I don’t know if it’s a blister. I don’t know what that thing is. It’s the weirdest thing. I feel it on the tip of my finger. Just felt really odd starting after the break, and for three, four games, it was the funniest feeling I have. I feel like it’s numb and swollen,” said Federer.
Federer suspected it might be a bee sting but is unsure and is hoping it disappears in time for his last 32 meeting on Friday.
No6 seed Andy Murray flew through his second round 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 against Marinko Matosevic to take his record against Australians to a perfect 10-0.
The three-time runner-up next plays Portugal’s Joao Sousa for a place in the last 16.
