Thiem praised for sportsmanship in loss to Goffin

Dominic Thiem is the most recent player to receive plaudits for his sportsmanship during a match. The Austrian gifted a point to opponent David Goffin during their third-round encounter at the Australian Open.

At 1-1 in the second set, Goffin hit a ball that was called long by the linesperson and the 21-year-old hit a shot long in response. Goffin challenged, and the replay showed his ball hit the baseline.

The umpire ordered the point to be replayed, as Theim had had a play on the ball. But upon hearing the decision, Thiem called for Goffin to be given the point.

Acts of sportsmanship in tennis have been common in Australia. A year ago, Tim Smyczek was praised for allowing Rafael Nadal to restart a point when the crowd interrupted the Spaniard while he was serving.

And during the Hopman Cup earlier this month, Jack Sock told opponent Lleyton Hewitt to challenge a call.

The Australian was serving and his first ball was called long. Sock realized that the ball had been in, and was proven correct when a bemused Hewitt followed his advice and won the challenge.

But this one was arguably bigger, as it involved Thiem actually giving a point to his opponent.

Thiem's generous gesture didn’t benefit him—he dropped the game—but the Austrian did win the second set in a four-set defeat to the higher-ranked Goffin.