EASTBOURNE — In one of the most bizarre moments of the 2024 grass-court season, Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won a point at the Eastbourne International without even holding his racket, leaving spectators and commentators in disbelief.
The incident occurred during Davidovich Fokina’s first-round match against China’s Zhang Zhizhen. At 4-4 in the first set, the Spaniard lost grip of his racket mid-rally but still managed to win the point through sheer improvisation, turning an apparent disadvantage into a moment of pure tennis ingenuity.
The Unbelievable Rally
The sequence began with a deep forehand from Zhang, forcing Davidovich Fokina to stretch wide. As he lunged for the ball, his racket slipped from his hand, landing just inside the baseline. Instead of conceding the point, the 25-year-old instinctively used his foot to flick the ball back over the net. Zhang, caught off guard, rushed forward but mishit his reply into the net.
The crowd erupted in cheers, and even Zhang couldn’t help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. "I’ve never seen anything like that in my career," Zhang admitted in his post-match press conference. "He’s a magician!"
The Rules Behind the Chaos
Under the ITF’s official rules, a player loses the point if the ball touches any part of their body or clothing before crossing the net. However, since Davidovich Fokina’s foot made contact with the ball after it had already bounced on his side, the shot was legal—just highly unconventional.
Tennis rules expert Craig O’Shannessy explained: "As long as the player doesn’t catch or carry the ball, and the contact is a single, clean hit, it’s technically within the rules—no matter what body part is used."
Key Takeaways from the Rulebook
- A player can use any part of their body to return the ball, provided it’s a single motion.
- The ball must not touch the player before bouncing on their side.
- The racket does not need to be in hand for the shot to count.
Davidovich Fokina’s Reaction
The Spaniard, known for his creative shot-making, laughed off the incident in his post-match interview. "I don’t know how I did it—maybe it was luck, maybe instinct," he said. "But I’ll take it! Sometimes you have to try something crazy."
Despite the viral moment, Davidovich Fokina lost the match in three sets (6-7, 6-4, 6-4). However, his improvised shot quickly became the talk of the tournament, with social media dubbing it "the greatest no-racket winner in tennis history."
Historical Precedents
While rare, similar incidents have occurred before. In 2016, France’s Gael Monfils won a point at the US Open by hitting a between-the-legs shot after dropping his racket. However, Davidovich Fokina’s foot-assisted return is arguably even more unorthodox.
Tennis legend Andy Murray, commentating at Eastbourne, weighed in: "I’ve seen players use their hands or even their heads, but a foot? That’s a first for me. It just shows how creative tennis can be."
Conclusion: A Moment to Remember
While Davidovich Fokina’s Eastbourne campaign ended early, his no-racket winner will live on as one of the most entertaining highlights of the season. The shot perfectly encapsulated his unpredictable style and the spontaneous joy that makes tennis so captivating.
As Zhang jokingly put it: "Next time, maybe I’ll try playing with my shoes instead of a racket—it seems to work for him!"