Young star stuns Novak Djokovic with brilliant act of sportsmanship
Novak Djokovic has again made light work of Taylor Fritz on clay, winning 6-4 6-2 to move into the third round at the Madrid Open.
The World No.1 endured a disappointing Monte Carlo Masters last time out, but swept aside 21-year-old Fritz 6-3 6-0 en route to the quarter-finals, and this was another routine victory.
Fritz initially stayed with his opponent on serve but failed to put Djokovic under any sort of pressure, making the sole breakthrough of the opening set an increasing inevitability.
The young American actually sabotaged his own cause early in the first set with a remarkable act of sportsmanship.
After a Djokovic first serve was called out, Fritz conceded the point knowing it had clipped the line, not even bothering to tell Djokovic to use hawk-eye.
The brilliant moment won over fans.
👏👍😊 Bravo Taylor 🙌
— Mikikant (@mikikant_liber) May 7, 2019
Nice job Taylor! 👏🏻
— JANE 🐊 (@JANE79591745) May 7, 2019
@Taylor_Fritz97 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 hope good karma shines on the rest of your season sir
— Julian (@JulianwithanH) May 7, 2019
Nice, great character and sportsmanship.
— Blasphemous Rumours (@JakeJordanMusic) May 7, 2019
Well done.
— Rebecca Hall (@traffordbanks) May 7, 2019
One way traffic
The Serbian, playing his first match of the week, then raced through the second to wrap up victory in just an hour and five minutes.
After a tight start, some sensational defence from Djokovic in a lengthy rally set up the first break point opportunities of the match in the seventh game, the first of those then taken as Fritz went long.
That was the only gain required to settle the opener and the top seed quickly moved in front in the second.
A far more comfortable set followed, with Djokovic raising his game and Fritz struggling to keep pace, going narrowly wide to gift away another break and put the favourite in cruise control.
Fritz recovered in his next service game to prevent a third consecutive break, but Djokovic was extremely comfortable and swiftly closed out the match at the first time of asking with a ruthless forehand.
with Omnisport