It happened in the seventh game of the first set at 40:0: Pierre-Hugues Herbert is serving. An ace, he thinks, because white colour sprung up. But the linesman sees an error. Herbert wants to challenge the ball, but he can’t because his challenges for this set are all gone. What can he do? He talks to Stakkhovsky who is in the lead 5:1 and, what is much more important, has two challenges left. “Stakho” is also not sure about the ball being called out – and challenges for his desperate colleague against himself! It is, as it is: the video shows that the ball just touched the right line. Ace, Herbert gets the point. He thanks his opponent for this unbelievably fair gesture with a handshake.
Another unusual episode follows in this match. A ball boy injures himself and falls down with a pain-stricken face in the beginning of the second set. “Stakho”is first by his side, comforts the boy. Later the medic and physical therapist, the child cannot stay on and is taken from the court. Before, both players encourage and comfort him. True sportsmanship.
The history of the classy match goes like this: Ukrainian Stakhovsky, who is on his way back into the top 100, starts rapidly, goes into the lead quickly with a double break and serves solidly to bring it to 6:2. Then the tables turn slightly. Herbert, who has won all four Grand-Slam tournaments in the doubles, serves and volleyes brilliantly. He only loses two points in his own service. Stakhovsky fights back and gets the tie-break though. Herbert shows no weakness: 7:2.
The deciding break is in the fifth game of the third round – the score is 2:6, 7:6(2), 6:4 for the elegantly playing Frenchman. After winning against Gael Monfils in his opener he now has also defeated Sergiy Stakhovsky and is through to the quarter finals in Halle for the first time. The Fair-Play award of the tournament, however, goes to Sergiy Stakhovsky!
