Tennis star cops two code violations in furious blow-up at umpire
Stefanos Tsitsipas has lost his cool at the Australian Open, copping two code violations on one point.
The young Greek was locked in a fierce battle with Nikoloz Basilashvili on Friday when he was left fuming at a number of umpiring calls.
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Up 5-3 in the third set, Tsitsipas thought he’d sealed the set to take a 2-1 lead when Basilashvili returned a serve into the net on game point.
Tsitsipas had rightfully won the point, but because the line judge originally called his serve out, the point had to be replayed.
If that wasn’t bad enough, he was then hit with a time violation for exceeding the 25-second shot clock in between serves.
It was his second time violation, meaning he lost a first set and went on to lose the point.
He then lost the game as well, letting Basilashvili back into the set at 5-4.
He was absolutely fuming as he walked to his chair, angrily yelling and pointing towards the linesman in Greek.
He then mockingly clapped the line judge and gave them a thumbs up, earning another code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Tsitsipas managed to settle down after the outburst, going on to take the set in a tiebreak.
What on earth has just happened there with the umpire in Tsitsipas’s match?! Serve supposedly called out but I certainly didn’t hear anything…
Think he’s got every right to be fuming – should be 2-1 up but now loses the break and Basilashvili is back in it at 5-4. #ausopen
— Joe Krishnan (@joekrishnan) January 18, 2019
Scenes on MCA. Tsitsipas wins a set point but is forced to replay after an erroneous line call. Then cops a time violation. Then loses his serve. Then gets a code violation. Hasn't won a point since. Feel for the guy. #AusOpen
— Ben McKay (@benmackey) January 18, 2019
Crazy third set between Tsitsipas and Basilashvili. Could have turned out to be rather controversial too but Tsitsipas eventually takes it in the tie-break 7-(6) to lead 2-1. #AusOpen
— Nikhila (@kokudum) January 18, 2019
The 20-year-old 14th seed triumphed 6-3 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 in two hours and 54 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.