About this episode
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. The TennisWorthy Podcast is presented by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. For more information and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.