You know what I respect from both the character and the author? The fact that he legitimately tried to hit her immediately after the sparring match began. None of that bullshit oh, I can't hit a girl or I can't hit the person I like. He accepted that she literally challenged him to do it, and he gave it a good effort. And when it was clear that he had beaten her, he was like, eh, no point; I'll tap dat. That's fine.
She lost points in my book for going for that cheap ass kick to his groin, though. Like what the hell...