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Stefanos Tsitsipas sealed an Australian Open semi-final berth successful consecutive sets connected Tuesday night, but not earlier going perilously adjacent to being disqualified.
In an explosive infinitesimal that reawakened memories of Novak Djokovic's default during the 2020 US Open, Tsitsipas unleashed aft losing a constituent during the 3rd set.
Jiri Lehecka ripped a forehand that Tsitsipas couldn't get his racquet to, prompting the Greek 3rd effect to whack the shot aft it rebounded disconnected the partition down him.
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The shot went highly adjacent to hitting a shot kid, leaving two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier stunned.
"Tsitsipas conscionable got truly lucky," Courier said connected the Nine broadcast.
"He swings successful choler and it astir hits the shot kid, and if it does, he's shaking hands a loser successful this match. You cannot bash that. You person to beryllium careful. That was dangerous."
The 2023 ATP Official Rulebook is wide connected the matter.
"Players shall not violently, dangerously oregon with choler hit, footwear oregon propulsion a tennis shot portion connected the grounds of the tourney tract but successful the tenable pursuit of a constituent during a lucifer (including warm-up)," it reads.
"For purposes of this rule, maltreatment of balls is defined arsenic intentionally oregon recklessly hitting a shot retired of the enclosure of the court, hitting a shot dangerously oregon recklessly wrong the tribunal oregon hitting a shot with disregard of the consequences."
Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.
A default tin beryllium enforced pursuing a singular offence oregon arsenic a effect of aggregate incidents.
"Linespeople are gone," Courier added connected Tuesday night.
"Djokovic got defaulted astatine the US Open a fewer years backmost for swatting a shot ... it deed a linesperson.
"But determination are inactive radical connected the court, and if you deed them, you are automatically disqualified."
The afloat story: Djokovic defaulted astatine US Open
Tsitsipas played down the severity of the incidental but indicated regret erstwhile asked astir the substance successful his property conference.
"I saw the shot kid erstwhile the shot came back," Tsitsipas said.
"I'm a nonrecreational tennis player.
"I was not aiming for the shot kid obviously. I saw the wall, conscionable went backmost towards the ball.
"The kid, successful my eyes, was beauteous acold distant from me. Would person truly had to miss to deed that shot kid.
"Of course, it's not bully adjacent to deed it backmost towards the wall.
"I personally don't deliberation I deed it excessively hard.
"What I did ... decidedly I'm not blessed astir that. I shouldn't person done it.
"But it was portion of the moment. My shot fell short, determination was a small spot of vexation there.
"But things happen."
Tsitsipas' flirtatious unrecorded TV connection for Margot Robbie
Djokovic was ejected from the 2020 US Open successful a fourth-round lucifer against Pablo Carreno Busta, aft striking the ball successful vexation and collecting a enactment justice successful the throat.
On the contrary, luck favoured Tsitsipas successful his quarter-final against Lehecka astatine Rod Laver Arena.
The 24-year-old, who's inactive chasing a maiden expansive slam title, volition contention his 3rd Australian Open semi-final successful succession erstwhile helium meets Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon.
Tsitsipas was ousted by Daniil Medvedev successful his past 2 semi-final appearances astatine Melbourne Park.
He defeated Quentin Halys, Rinky Hijikata, Tallon Griekspoor, Jannik Sinner and Lehecka en way to this year's Australian Open semi-finals.
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