Latest news with #sportsmanship
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘That's amazing': Carlos Alcaraz's incredible sportsmanship staggers tennis legend
Carlos Alcaraz is being widely praised across the tennis world after an incredible act of sportsmanship during his win over American Ben Shelton at the French Open on Monday morning. The reigning Roland Garros champ won a four-set war of attrition with the American 13th seed to reach the French Open quarter-finals and it was a contest full of drama. The Spaniard emerged victorious 7-6 (10/8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 after over three hours of blistering serves, power-hitting and drop-shots on Court Philippe Chatrier. Alcaraz's sporting act towards his opponent early in the second set was particularly eye-catching. The four-time grand slam champ willingly went down a break point in the first service game of the second set when he forfeited a point despite appearing — to the naked eye — to pull off a miracle volley. Alcaraz was at the net when Shelton attempted a cross-court passing shot, leaving the 22-year-old desperately lunging across his body to attempt a backhand volley at full stretch. Alcaraz's volley popped over the net as a clean winner while his racquet went flying towards the umpire's chair. You can watch the moment in the video player above. The two-time Wimbledon champ was awarded the point by the chair umpire, but he didn't hesitate to inform the umpire he wanted to forfeit the point because his fingers were not on the racquet when it made contact with the ball. Replays showed the racquet had slipped out of Alcaraz's fingers when the ball met the strings. Any stroke where players are not touching their racquets at the point of connection is a violation of tennis rules. However, Alcaraz could easily have gotten away with it if he'd have wanted to because Roland Garros does not use video review technology to decide on such matters. With the match delicately poised at the time, American tennis legend John McEnroe was blown away by Alcaraz's sportsmanship. 'That's amazing,' he said in commentary for TNT Sports. An American commentator on the broadcast said: 'That's huge. That's great sportsmanship. 'And by the way, they're not using video replay here, so they wouldn't be able to view video. At the other majors they're starting to use it.' Alcaraz after the match acknowledged the warm applause he received from the crowd as a result of his classy act. 'It's just about if I know that I didn't or I did a wrong thing, wrong shots or an illegal shot, I have to say,' he said when asked about his decision to forfeit the point. 'You know, I have to be honest with myself. I have to be honest with Ben, with everyone. I think that's the sport or should be like this, just to be fair with the opponent, with yourself.' Shelton clearly appreciated the gesture and the pair warmly embraced after Alcaraz had won match point in the fourth set. 'I think we both have huge respect to each other, we entertained the people well,' Alcaraz said on court. 'He's a really powerful player — he can make any shot. I appreciate the moment that I've shared with him today.' Alcaraz edged a tight first set, which produced only one unconverted break point, at the end of a lengthy tie-break that saw both players have chances to clinch the opener. When Alcaraz finally forced a break against the big-serving Shelton in the second set, it was enough for him to move into a two-set lead. But once again Alcaraz failed to see out a straight-sets victory as Shelton produced two breaks of serve to edge the most open of the four frames. Alcaraz nonetheless bounced back to gain the advantage in the fourth set, before serving out as dusk descended over centre court. Another American awaits Alcaraz in the last eight after 12th seed Tommy Paul earlier defeated Aussie Alexei Popyrin in straight sets. 'I remember that every match that I've played against him he was really tough. He was really difficult,' said Alcaraz of Paul. 'In Grand Slams, in Masters 1000, and all the tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. I lost a lot, a few matches against him as well. He is in the quarter-finals of another Grand Slam, so his level is really high right now.' Alcaraz leads his series with Paul 4-2, and most recently defeated the 28-year-old in straight sets on the red dirt of Roland Garros at the quarter-final stage of the 2024 Olympic Games
ABC News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Alcaraz hands point to Shelton at French Open in act of sportsmanship
Carlos Alcaraz is such a constant ray of sunshine on court that it always seems a surprise when a darker mood descends. Yet the Spaniard was still able to win the battle with his own mind to earn his 100th tour clay court victory and advance to the French Open quarterfinals overnight. The 22-year-old subdued dangerous Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier, meaning he has now lost a set in each of the last three matches of his title defence en route to the quarterfinals. They have all featured spells of familiar stellar quality but also careless patches — "dumb mistakes" as Alcaraz dubbed them — that have begun to irritate him even if, in truth, they've never looked like derailing him. "Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind," Alcaraz said. "I just tried to calm myself. In some moments I was mad. "I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I'm happy that I didn't let that thought play against me. "I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going." He did keep going and the crowd couldn't have loved him more, especially when he owned up that one seemingly amazing winner he had hit should not count. He had flung his racquet out at full stretch to get to a Shelton passing shot and, miraculously, pulled off what looked to everyone like a winning volley. He was awarded the point, but admitted to the chair umpire that his hand wasn't holding the racquet and got a rousing ovation from the crowd for his sportsmanship. "I would have felt guilty if I didn't say anything," Alcaraz said. "It's just about the respect we have against each other." Alcaraz, after 19 wins in 20 clay-court matches this season now, will be hot favourite to get past his next obstacle too, even though 12th seed Tommy Paul looked a potentially troublesome quarterfinal foe as he outclassed Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. The first American man to reach the French Open quarterfinals in 22 years since Andre Agassi, Paul loves pitting himself against the Spaniard and had beaten him a couple of times, though Alcaraz won their last encounter at Roland Garros in the Olympic quarterfinal. "I remember that every match I've played against him he was really tough," Alcaraz said. "In grand slams, Masters 1000s, all tournaments I've played against him it wasn't easy at all. His level is really high right now. "I'll try to keep going, trying to be better. I'll try to learn from the mistakes I made today. I'm not going to make the same against Tommy." Frances Tiafoe was another American to make the last eight, defeating German Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). AAP
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Carlos Alcaraz stuns French Open fans with classy gesture as he wins rally but concedes point due to little-known rule
CARLOS ALCARAZ performed an incredible act of sportsmanship during his four-set French Open victory over Ben Shelton. The Spaniard, 22, is the reigning champion at Roland Garros but faced a tricky fourth round contest against the big-serving American. 5 Alcaraz saved three set points in the first set to take it 7-6, winning a gruelling tiebreak 10-8. At 30-30 in the opening game of the second stanza, the two-time Wimbledon champion rushed towards the net following an approach shot to Shelton's backhand. The 13th seed punched his two-hander towards Alcaraz, who floated a forehand volley to the opposite corner. After shuttling nimbly across the back of the court, Shelton unleashed a sensational lefty passing shot. It initially appeared that Alcaraz had somehow gotten his racquet to the ball, sending it over the net for a winner. Shelton, 22, stood with his hands on his hips - astonished that Alcaraz had managed to dig out a winner. Not all was as it seemed, however, as the No2 seed immediately conceded the point to his opponent. While it initially appeared that Alcaraz had volleyed the ball before dropping his racquet, it turned out that he had in fact thrown it towards the ball, before it made contact. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 5 As this is not a legal shot, Alcaraz quickly confessed to what he had done and conceded the point to Shelton, bringing up a break opportunity in the process. When the umpire explained to the crowd what had happened, Alcaraz received applause from the Philippe Chatrier stands. Coco Gauff makes humiliating mistake as she walks on to French Open court without crucial equipment The crowd favourite went on to save SIX break points in that game, before finally holding serve. Alcaraz eventually took the match 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-4. At the end of the three hour and 22 minute battle, the two players shared a warm embrace at the net, both grinning after the entertaining spectacle. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz was full of praise for his opponent. The Murcia man said: "We both have huge respect for each other. "Every time we face each other, we bring a high level and play good tennis. He's a really powerful player and can make any shot… he's an unbelievable player. "We played complete tennis, big shots, coming to the net, big forehands… We stayed there during the whole match. For me, it's great having him around, it's a great energy." Alcaraz will return to action on Tuesday, when he'll face Tommy Paul in the quarter-finals. 5
Associated Press
14 hours ago
- General
- Associated Press
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz shows sportsmanship by conceding a point to Ben Shelton
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz called himself for breaking the rules at the French Open and conceded a point to Ben Shelton on Sunday. Early in the second set of their fourth-round match, Shelton whipped a passing shot well out of Alcaraz's reach up at the net. So Alcaraz, the defending champion at Roland-Garros, flung his racket — and, as his equipment flipped through the air, its strings somehow not only made contact with the ball but sent it back over the net and onto the other side of the court. Initially, the second-seeded Alcaraz was awarded the point. But he immediately went over to the chair umpire to admit that he wasn't holding his racket when it touched the ball. That's not allowed, so the point went to Shelton, an American seeded 13th. When the official informed the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd what had happened, Alcaraz was given a round of applause. Making the moment possibly critical, instead of leading 40-30 on his serve, Alcaraz was now down 30-40, giving Shelton his first break point of the match. But Alcaraz saved that one — and five others in that game — along the way to taking a two-set lead in the best-of-five match. ___ More AP tennis:
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Mellencamp calls out Pat McAfee for trashing Knicks' celebrity fans: ‘I was embarrassed'
This one hurts so bad. John Mellencamp has taken Pat McAfee to task for his foul-mouthed rant on the Knicks' celebrity fans that attended Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday night in Indianapolis. Advertisement 'The Knicks/Pacers games have been very entertaining for anyone who likes basketball or sports. I attended Game 4 in Indianapolis,' Mellencamp, the Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Indiana native, wrote on social media. John Mellencamp (l.) and girlfriend Kristin Kehrberg (r.) attend Game 4 of the Pacers-Knicks series on May 27, 2025. Getty Images Pat McAfee (r.) with Paul 'Triple H' Levesque (l.) before Game 4 of the Pacers-Knicks series on May 27, 2025. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images ' 'Hoosier Hospitality' … I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team. The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life. Advertisement 'On behalf of most Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our poor behavior. I'm sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this smackdown.' Follow The Post's coverage of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs Sports+ subscribers: Sign up for Inside the Knicks to get daily newsletter coverage and join Expert Take for insider texts about the series. McAfee, the former Colts punter and current WWE commentator whose eponymous ESPN show is filmed in Indianapolis, was given a microphone to speak to the crowd during the fourth quarter of the Pacers' win Tuesday and let the Knicks' celebrity fans have it. 'Indianapolis, Indiana, we've got some bigwigs from the big city in the building,' McAfee began. Advertisement 'Spike Lee is here. Ben Stiller is here. Timothée Chalamet is here,' he continued, with fans booing after each name. 'Let's send these sons of b—-es back to New York with their ears ringing. Let's turn this s–t up!' Timothée Chalamet (l.) and Ben Stiller (r.) pose for a photo before Game 4 of the Knicks-Pacers series on May 27, 2025. Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images McAfee addressed Mellencamp's comments Thursday on X, stating, 'I am 'somebody.' ' Stiller seemed surprised by McAfee's comments during an appearance on SNY's 'The Putback.' 'I did know that Timothée had been on his show. And I was like, 'Oh, that's your boy. That's your guy.' So when that happened, I was a little bit like, 'Whoa.' But the WWE aspect of it, I get it. It's just not the way it happens in New York. He should come to the Garden for Game 5,' Stiller said Wednesday. Advertisement 'They'll put him up on the screen, and they'll show him punting the ball and everybody will give him a nice cheer,' Stiller added. 'That's how we do it in New York. But I get it; it was fun. He was just trying to get the crowd riled up. It was a little bit out of the blue. It's also like, are we really doing the narrative of 'Hicks versus Knicks'? Like the bigwigs from New York? It just seems a little cartoonish. But then again, it goes with the WWE.' The Pacers won the game 130-121 to take a 3-1 series lead heading into Thursday night's Game 5 at MSG. The Thunder await the winner of this series in the 2025 NBA Finals, which starts next Thursday.
