JP Smith Reacts To Stunning Head-First Dive Hot Shot

  • Posted: Jun 15, 2017

JP Smith Reacts To Stunning Head-First Dive Hot Shot

Jun142017

Aussie claims Hot Shot honours at the Nottingham Challenger, en route to saving six match points in a first-round win

Rapid reactions on the tennis court can be the difference between winning and losing. For John-Patrick Smith, a diving drop shot off a net cord was all instinct.

“A shot like that is always pure instinct,” Smith told ATPWorldTour.com. “It was a high-level match, so it was great to get through with the win.”

“Up close and in person, that was easily the best shot I’ve seen live,” Smith’s coach Jacob Meyer exclaimed.

The Aussie hit one of the shots of the year on the ATP Challenger Tour on Tuesday, en route to saving six match points in a 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(1) win over Luca Vanni at the Aegon Open Nottingham. Facing break point at 1-0 in the third set, he reacted swiftly as a Vanni forehand struck the top of the net, clinging to the tape before softly dropping to the grass. Smith promptly left his feet, scooping a sublime drop shot winner.

“JP hit a good jamming first serve to set up an aggressive approach shot down the line, but Vanni’s forehand clipped off the tape and landed less than a racquet length from the net,” Meyer added. “JP somehow changed direction, dove head-first, managed to avoid smashing into the net and struck a full swinging drop shot that landed so short, it spun into the middle of the net where Vanni had no play on it.

“Vanni’s reaction was priceless. To his credit, he continued with a ‘Bravo JP’ and went back to smashing aces and chasing down every volley. JP would finish the day saving six match points, but that shot should count as the seventh. It was inspiring to witness.”

Smith would later concede the break, but fought back for the victory, saving a match point while serving down 5-4 and five more while serving to force a deciding tie-break at 6-5. He will face countryman John Millman in a second round affair on Thursday.

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Smith wasn’t the only player to hit the deck in Nottingham, with Sergiy Stakhovsky also producing a pair of diving hot shots…

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