Australian Open 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas almost hits ball kid in quarter-final win over Jiri Lehecka
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Stefanos Tsitsipas sealed an Australian Open semi-final berth in straight sets on Tuesday night, but not before going perilously close to being disqualified.
In an explosive moment that reawakened memories of Novak Djokovic’s default during the 2020 US Open, Tsitsipas unleashed after losing a point during the third set.
Jiri Lehecka ripped a forehand that Tsitsipas couldn’t get his racquet to, prompting the Greek third seed to whack the ball after it rebounded off the wall behind him.
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The ball went extremely close to hitting a ball kid, leaving two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier stunned.
“Tsitsipas just got really lucky,” Courier said on the Nine broadcast.
“He swings in anger and it nearly hits the ball kid, and if it does, he’s shaking hands a loser in this match. You cannot do that. You have to be careful. That was dangerous.”
The 2023 ATP Official Rulebook is clear on the matter.
“Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball while on the grounds of the tournament site except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up),” it reads.
“For purposes of this rule, abuse of balls is defined as intentionally or recklessly hitting a ball out of the enclosure of the court, hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly within the court or hitting a ball with disregard of the consequences.”
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A default can be enforced following a singular offence or as a result of multiple incidents.
“Linespeople are gone,” Courier added on Tuesday night.
“Djokovic got defaulted at the US Open a few years back for swatting a ball … it hit a linesperson.
“But there are still people on the court, and if you hit them, you are automatically disqualified.”
The full story: Djokovic defaulted at US Open
Tsitsipas played down the severity of the incident but indicated regret when asked about the matter in his press conference.
“I saw the ball kid when the ball came back,” Tsitsipas said.
“I’m a professional tennis player.
“I was not aiming for the ball kid obviously. I saw the wall, just went back towards the ball.
“The kid, in my eyes, was pretty far away from me. Would have really had to miss to hit that ball kid.
“Of course, it’s not nice even to hit it back towards the wall.
“I personally don’t think I hit it too hard.
“What I did … definitely I’m not happy about that. I shouldn’t have done it.
“But it was part of the moment. My ball fell short, there was a little bit of frustration there.
“But things happen.”
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Djokovic was ejected from the 2020 US Open in a fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta, after striking the ball in frustration and collecting a line judge in the throat.
On the contrary, fortune favoured Tsitsipas in his quarter-final against Lehecka at Rod Laver Arena.
The 24-year-old, who’s still chasing a maiden grand slam title, will contest his third Australian Open semi-final in succession when he meets Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon.
Tsitsipas was ousted by Daniil Medvedev in his last two semi-final appearances at Melbourne Park.
He defeated Quentin Halys, Rinky Hijikata, Tallon Griekspoor, Jannik Sinner and Lehecka en route to this year’s Australian Open semi-finals.
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