THE BEST STORIES OF THE GAME, FROM the BEST PLAYERS IN THE GAME, THROUGH THE DEFINING VALUES OF OUR GAME.
This year, we’re taking you even deeper to share more stories and more moments from our archives and our Hall of Famers. Each month we’ll focus on a value that the sport of tennis and its greatest champions embody. From our youtube channel, to our social media feed, our podcast, and our website you’ll find inspirational stories and moments that pull at our heart strings and remind us why we fell in love with this game. The moments that gave us chills, that made us stand in our seats, that made our jaws drop – these are the moments that define our sport.
Sportsmanship & Character:
Sportsmanship and character are at the heart of every Hall of Famer — the respect, integrity, and grace they show on and off the court define their legacy.
This December, we’ll be highlighting inspiring stories from champions whose character shaped their careers and left a lasting impact on the game of tennis. This month’s stories feature:
Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Chris Evert, John Newcombe, and Kim Clijsters.ON SOCIAL FOR STORIES OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND CHARACTER
TENNISWORTHY THE PODCAST
Patrick McEnroe and Chris Bowers explore the crucial value of sportsmanship in tennis, and its various definitions with three legends: Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport, former doubles world No. 1 Rohan Bopanna and two-time major finalist Todd Martin.
Lindsay Davenport defines sportsmanship broadly, as handling defeat, tough calls, and success, while being able to look your opponent in the eye. She shares her own personal examples and role models for sportsmanship in today's game.
Rohan Bopanna discusses one momentous instance of sportsmanship in his career: voluntarily gave up a critical point in the 2023 US Open men's doubles final after the ball lightly brushed his arm. Bopanna discusses how honesty and instinct guide his career and how his gesture inspired others.
Two-time ATP Sportsmanship Award winner Todd Martin stresses that true sportsmanship means putting the sport first and maintains that living with the "bad truth" of a point you didn't deserve isn't worthwhile. He discusses how in an era of electronic line calling, sportsmanship is less about line calls and more about overall consistency, poise, and professionalism on and off the court.
