Not so long ago, social networks and sports sites were full of photos of a female referee with a white card in her hands. The initiative of football officials to encourage the participants in the matches for the manifestation of fair play and humanism caused ridicule by many. But in fact, the message is quite sensible and very relevant.

Now even the simplest help to an opponent is perceived as something grandiose. Such moments are rare, and therefore especially valuable. So the Russian tennis player Anastasia Potapova will surely remember the opponent’s act for a long time.

Amazing nobility!

Photo: © Julian Finney / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

While the whole world is discussing whether to let Russia go to the Paris Olympics, and a discussion is flaring up inside the country about the advisability of performing without a flag and an anthem, Russian tennis players continue to participate in WTA and ATP tournaments. Just last week, Karen Khachanov played in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, and in the junior tournament, two rising stars from Russia played for the title.

In the first week after the end of the Grand Slam tournament, some tennis players came to Lyon for WTA-250 competitions. Among the three Russians in the main draw, Anastasia Potapova was seeded the highest. The 21-year-old athlete is ranked 43rd in the WTA rankings, which is one position behind her personal best. In case of a successful performance in France, he can get into the top 40 for the first time in his career.

Grid fifth seeded clearly favors. In the first round, she got the Spaniard Ribera, who qualified, and in the second, the local wild card holder Clara Burel, who is not in the top 100. Nastya won both fights in three games, but the match with Burel turned out to be very dramatic for her. Having won the first set, Potapova gave up the initiative in the second and allowed her opponent to transfer the meeting to the decisive game.

In the third set, Potapova was close to an early break, but when the score was 15:40 on the opponent’s serve, she suddenly sat down and grabbed her ankle. The tennis player had to ask for a medical timeout. The pain was so strong that it was difficult for the Russian woman to get up and walk to the bench on her own. At that moment, Burel went around the net, approached her opponent and, taking her by the arm, helped her limp to the recreation area.

Photo: © NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

There, a doctor approached Potapova, who suggested that she finish the match. But Nastya answered with a categorical refusal: “I will not act in film.” A few minutes later, the meeting resumed. Potapova won the game, then gave up her serve, but quickly regained the advantage. Despite the pain and another stoppage of the game, the Russian woman brought the match to victory and reached the quarterfinals, significantly increasing the chances of getting into the top 40.

And for this she should thank not only herself and the doctor who helped, but also her rival, who showed nobility and showed what real fair play is.