Carlos Alcaraz showed us what sportsmanship is all about at Roland Garros. He was playing Ben Shelton in the round of 16. The first set was intense. Alcaraz won it in a tie-break.
Then something amazing happened. Shelton hit a passing shot. Alcaraz stretched out and swung his racket. The ball landed on the other side of the court. The crowd went wild.
But here’s the thing: Alcaraz didn’t take the point. He told the umpire he didn’t have his racket in hand when the ball hit it. So he gave the point to Shelton.
What happened next
The umpire was surprised. But Alcaraz just smiled and moved on. Shelton was stunned too. He didn’t expect Alcaraz to be so honest.
People on social media loved it. They called Alcaraz a class act.
Too much class from Carlitos, who gave the point to Ben Shelton after telling the chair umpire he did not have his racket in his hand when contact was made with the ball 👏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ctCh7Lrrmq
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 1, 2025
It was a small moment. But it said a lot about Alcaraz’s character. He put sportsmanship first. That’s what matters most in tennis.