News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Tennis praised the sportsmanship of new star Tim Smyczek today as the American qualifier insisted: "It just seemed like the right thing to do."

At the end of a gruelling five-set battle with Rafa Nadal, the world No 112 told the Spaniard to re-take a first serve when he was distracted by a shout from the crowd. Two points later, the world No 3 staggered into the third round.

The world No 3, who fought off cramp and dizziness, was full of praise for the new icon of fair play.

"What he did at the end of the fifth was just amazing," Nadal said.

"He's a gentleman. Not a lot of people would do something like that."

And world No 1 Novak Djokovic today added: "I've seen actually the great gentleman gesture and sportsmanship from Smyczek in the last game. I think that's something that people should talk about. This is something that is not very common in the sport today, where media and people generally emphasize on the rivalries, feisty, aggressive kind of approach to matches. It's nice to have something that is greater than sport itself - the sportsmanship and fair play."

Defending champion Stan Wawrinka said: "I think it was great for him to give back the point. You don't see it so many times and it's great sportsmanship."

In pictures - best pictures of the Australian Open2 015:

Asked if he would do the same thing, the Swiss No 4 seed admitted: "I don't know. You cannot answer that. After four hours of match you don't know what's in your mind. Sometimes you react just like that. So it's not like you don't ask you that question when it's happening. You just do it. Hope so I will do it."

The incident has captured the headlines in Australia, where the recent cricket matches between the host nation and India have been full of bad blood. In their last ODI at the MCG on Sunday, David Warner told Rohit Sharma to "speak English".

But Smyczek, who left Melbourne to return to his home in Florida yesterday, played down the incident.

"It clearly bothered him - I thought it was the right thing to do," he said.

"I just think most situations are very black and white - there's almost always a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do.

"That's not to say that you shouldn't compete really hard or do everything within the rules to win. But most situations in sport are black and white, there is right and wrong.

"It just seemed like the right thing to do. I'm certain that Rafa would have done the same thing."