Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas left viewers and the crowd at Rod Laver Arena with a priceless moment when he failed to realise he had won his third-round match.
The fourth-seeded Tsitsipas today fended off Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-3 7-5 6-7 (2) 6-4 to advance to a fourth-round match.
Leading 5-4 in the fourth set, Tsitsipas was up 40-0 and on match point when Paire produced an unforced error to finish off the match.
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While Tsitsipas briefly celebrated the moment, he walked over to receive his towel after not realising the match was over, with Paire confused and waiting at the net.
“Guys that was wild, Stefanos literally did not know that he had won the match there,” said Brad Stine in commentary.
“It was funny because Benoit was staring him down, it looked like he (Tsitsipas) was going to go get his towel before he came to shake hands and Benoit actually looked a little irritated like, ‘come shake hands, man, what are you doing?’
“Then he turned around and saw Benoit at the net and realised what was happening.”
The Greek star was runner-up at the French Open and reached the Australian Open semifinals last year.
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Tsitsipas will come up against American Taylor Fritz next.
No.20-seeded Fritz had a 6-0, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over No. 15 Roberto Bautista Agut to reach the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.
The 24-year-old American, contesting his sixth Australian Open and 22nd major overall, recorded just his second win and seven head-to-head meetings with Bautista Agut, a 33-year-old Spaniard.
– with AP
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