'Completely confused': Star bewildered as Aus Open match ends in drama

·Sports Reporter

22 January 2022 at 5:59 am·3-min read

Stefanos Tsitsipas (pictured right) looking confused and (pictured left) Benoit Paire waiting for a handshake at the Aus Open. — Stefanos Tsitsipas (pictured right) didn't realise he had won the match against Benoit Paire (pictured left) at the Aus Open. (Images: Twitter)

Stefanos Tsitsipas' match with the enigmatic Benoit Paire ended in extraordinary circumstances at the Aus Open after the No.4 seed walked back to return serve without realising he had won the match.

Tsitsipas won the match against the Frenchman 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, but the entertaining match continued after match point.

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Paire faced match point on his serve and Tsitsipas returned a thunderous shot to seal the game.

However, Tsitsipas was so focused on each point that he walked back to his return marker and grabbed his towel.

Paire sent down a steely gaze from the net as he waited for Tsitsipas to greet him amongst the cheers from the raucous crowd.

It wasn't until Tsitsipas reacted to someone's gesture in his player's box that he realised he may have won.

The No.4 seed turned around to see Paire waiting for him.

The confusion made for a tense moment on court and fans felt the confusion.

Unbelievable scenes from Stefanos Tsitsipas' win over Benoit Paire, as he celebrates winning a point - without realising he had won the match.

Is it coaching if his Dad tells him?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/fivDU5NpSG
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) January 22, 2022

Stefanos is completely confused as he is so in the moment, he doesn't realize he has just won the match until Velojevic begins to read the scoreline. #Tsitsipas #Paire Matchpoint. pic.twitter.com/EMtRzn6RRH
— Viscount of Cicakistan 🎾💉🧬🦠🧫 (@RafalutionXX20) January 22, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas wins 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 against Benoit Paire.

Looks like Stef did not even realise that it was a match point.
— Vipul (@Sporty_Baba) January 22, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas just hit the most sensational return winner to break Benoit Paire & win 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-4.

Was so focused he didn't know it was match point, just went back for his towel. pic.twitter.com/vFilKnGma0
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 22, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas defeats Benoit Paire

Paire swore and berated himself after letting Tsitsipas off the hook with errors in the fourth set and then served up a double-fault to gift the Greek match points.

French Open finalist Tsitsipas will meet American Taylor Fritz for a place in the quarter-finals, as he continues his bid for a first Grand Slam title.

"Big server, big hitter. He has weapons," he said of Fritz.

"I will really have to stay consistent and keep pushing him back."

Stefanos Tsitsipas (pictured) celebrates victory in his third round singles match against Benoit Paire of France during day six of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) (Daniel Pockett via Getty Images)

Earlier in the contest, Tsitsipas was warned during the match for court side coaching.

However, he said he was not aware of being coached at the time.

"I have no idea," Tsitsipas told reporters of the warning.

"I was really far away from my coach, and with my back facing the other way, so I was just laughing because I don't know where that came from. It was completely unexpected."

with Reuters

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