Stefanos Tsitsipas left baffled over bizarre Australian Open drama
The World No.4 was baffled after he was continually called for a fault.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been left dumbfounded after he was called for multiple foot faults and breached the serve clock time limit during his semi-final match against Karen Khachanov. Tsitsipas was eventually able to reach his second grand slam final thanks to a great start against Russian Khachanov at the Australian Open.
The World No.4 was in control against his opponent when he was cautioned for running down the serve clock. Tsitsipas is known to push the time limit and often receives a warning.
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However, he was pinged twice in the first set, which resulted in the chair umpire taking away his chance of a first serve before one point. In bizarre scenes, Tsitsipas then missed the second for a double fault.
"Can you believe it," tennis great, turned commentator, Jim Courier said. However, it wasn't the only serving controversy throughout the match.
Tsitsipas was also called early on for a foot fault. After brushing off the first foot fault, he was then called two more times.
This sparked confusion as Tsitsipas approached the chair umpire to question why he was receiving foot faults when he didn't believe he was stepping over the line. Courier said Tsitsipas had: "Moved closer to that line, compared to past years. He is hedging his bets."
But after committing multiple foot faults, Lleyton Hewitt pointed out that the World No.4 was clearly unaware how close his back foot was to the middle line.
'I don't think he knows," Lleyton Hewitt said. The chair umpire quickly explained to Tsitsipas why he was being faulted.
The tennis world was quick to react after the bizarre foot fault calls.
Looks like Tsitsipas is foot faulting on the center service line… pic.twitter.com/WYl2AVBHHR
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 27, 2023
Tsitsipas: serves
Machine: FOOT FAULT!
Tsitsipas: 🤷🏻♂️ #AusOpen— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 27, 2023
Wow! It has been the center line this whole time? The chair umpire has to let the player know that sooner. Stefanos keeps backing up not knowing that that isn’t the problem. This wasn’t an issue before foot faults were called electronically.
— Jared Pine (@JaredPineTennis) January 27, 2023
Tsitsipas time violations and foot faults really adding another slight flavour to this match
— mark (@TweetsByMarkT) January 27, 2023
FOOT FAULTS AND TIME VIOLATIONS WHAT IS THIS FIRST SET
— astrid 🌴 (@requiemofruud) January 27, 2023
At 5-5 *0-15, Tsitsipas gets a 2nd time violation, loses 1st serve and double faults.
Weird.
0-30.— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 27, 2023
Tsitsipas led 7-6, 6-4 after some incredible defensive work on Rod Laver Arena. However, Tsitsipas held two match points in the third set tiebreak, but was unable to convert as Khachanov pushed the match into a fourth set after a stoic comeback.
The World No.4 bounced back and lifted his game in the fourth to win 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 and reach his maiden Australian Open final.
Stefanos Tsitsipas loving the crowd at the Australian Open
Tsitsipas, who will become World No.1 should he win the title, has thrived on the energy from the crowd in Melbourne. The city has a large Greek population, including some of his extended family, and he considers this his "home" tournament.
The Greek's best grand slam so far is a French Open final appearance in 2021, where he fell to Djokovic in five sets after winning the first two. In the other semi-final, Novak Djokovic will face American Tommy Paul.
Djokovic has obliterated his opponents on his way to the Australian Open semi-final as seeks a record 22nd grand slam and 10th title in Melbourne.
with AAP
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