Sachin Tendulkar was left in awe of seeing Steve Smith and Novak Djokovic engage in a fun battle ahead of the Australian Open.

In a captivating display of cross-sport talent, Smith left tennis maestro Djokovic spellbound with his adeptness on the tennis court during a pre-Australian Open charity event at Melbourne Park. The Australian cricketer, known for his prowess on the cricket field, demonstrated that his athletic skills extend beyond the boundary ropes.

The exhibition match, which also featured Australian athlete Peter Bol, was one of several charitable engagements leading up to the commencement of the Australian Open on January 14th. The crowd at Rod Laver Arena witnessed a light-hearted yet competitive exchange between the sports stars, with Smith showcasing his quick footwork and sharp reflexes.

Djokovic, who has claimed 24 Grand Slam titles, served up a challenge to Smith with a gentle serve directed at him. Smith, with remarkable agility, sidestepped and returned the ball cleanly back into play, much to the astonishment of Djokovic.

The tennis champion was so taken aback by the cricketer’s skillful return that he chose not to attempt another shot, instead offering a gesture of respect to Smith’s unexpected tennis flair.

While Djokovic’s prowess on the tennis court is undisputed, his foray into cricket during the event was met with less success. Attempting to wield the cricket bat, Djokovic swung and missed, a stark contrast to his usual precision with a tennis racquet. Yet, when he reverted to his familiar tool of trade, Djokovic managed to send the ball soaring into the stands, delighting the spectators with his power.

The battle would earn praise from Tendulkar, who would say that it was great to see two accomplished sportspersons having a wonderful moment.

“Beautiful to see two accomplished sportsmen having a moment. The score is ‘love-all’,” tweeted Tendulkar.

Djokovic responded to the tweet from Tendulkar as well, seemingly thanking the cricket legend for his kind words.

Djokovic set to chase 11th Australian Open title while Smith starts a new innings

Djokovic will start his chase for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title with his first round match coming against qualifier Dino Prizmic. The Serbian star, who only failed to win Wimbledon last year and won the rest of the three grand slams, will be aiming for a golden slam.

As for Smith, he is gearing up for the opener’s role in Test cricket after putting his hand up to replace David Warner, who retired from the format.