Bizarre scenes as British star celebrates victory way too early
A rule change brought in for the 2019 Australian Open has seen confusion break out in the opening round.
Katie Boulter became the first main-draw winner of an Australian Open super tie-break after stunning 2015 semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova in Melbourne on Monday.
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The Australian Open introduced the first-to-10 tie-break format in deciding sets for this year’s grand slam.
And British player Boulter was the first to win in the new format following her 6-0 4-6 7-6 (10-6) victory against Makarova at Melbourne Park.
However she appeared to celebrate at 7-4 in the super tie-break, confused about the new format.
Regular tie-breaks are first to seven, and Boulter came to the net as if to shake hands once she went up 7-4.
But when the match didn’t finish, she put her hands up in confusion and asked her box what was going on.
Boulter needed 78 minutes in the final set and two hours, 24 minutes in total to advance to the second round.
The 22-year-old, who made it past the first round of a slam for just the second time, will meet 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka next.
Katie Boulter beats Ekaterina Makarova .. twice.
She thought she had won the final set tiebreak 7-4, but then remembered it’s first to 10 – and won 10-6 with an aggressive brand of tennis.— Russell Fuller (@russellcfuller) January 14, 2019
Katie Boulter thought she'd triumphed when she reached 7-4 in the final tiebreak.
Hung on for a 6-0 4-6 7-6(6) defeat of Ekaterina Makarova, winning the first singles super tiebreak in Grand Slam history.
Something she was clearly unaware that she was competing for. #AusOpen
— Abigail Johnson (@abigailtennis) January 14, 2019
The scenes out here on Court 12!
Katie Boulter celebrates and runs to the net at 7-4 in the 3rd set tiebreaker, only to be told it’s a super tiebreaker (first to 10 points)!#AusOpen
— Jedd Zetzer (@JeddZetzer) January 14, 2019
Even the players don’t understand the new rules. Katie Boulter 😂 #AusOpen
— Guy Ⓥ🇦🇺🎗🌱 (@greysfan) January 14, 2019
Katie Boulter appeared to think she had won the match when she got to 7-4 but it's first to ten under new format….now 7-6…
— Mike Dickson (@Mike_Dickson_DM) January 14, 2019
In the first ever first to 10-point tiebreak at the Australian Open, Katie Boulter thought she had won the match at 7-4 up. Started celebrating. #AusOpen
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) January 14, 2019
Katie Boulter thought she had won the match at 7-4 in the tiebreak – first to 10 this year!
— Simon Cambers (@scambers73) January 14, 2019
with Omnisport