A moment of costly confusion ended Sebastian Ofner’s Australian Open qualifying campaign in dramatic and embarrassing fashion, as the Austrian mistakenly celebrated victory before the match was actually over — only to go on and lose.
Ofner, whose best Grand Slam result remains a fourth-round appearance at the 2023 French Open, believed he had secured a place in the final round of qualifying at Melbourne Park after reaching 7–1 in the third-set tie-break against American youngster Nishesh Basavareddy.
Raising his arms in triumph, Ofner even pointed to his head in a gesture suggesting mental strength as he walked toward the net to shake hands with his opponent. But the celebration was premature — and devastating.
A Costly Rules Mistake in the Deciding Tie-Break
Unlike standard tie-breaks, final-set tie-breaks at the Australian Open are played to 10 points, not seven. Crucially, a player must also win by a margin of two points.
Ofner still needed three more points to close out the match.
The Austrian only realised his mistake after a brief exchange with the chair umpire, who clarified the scoring format. By then, the momentum had completely shifted.
Basavareddy, showing composure well beyond his years, seized the opportunity and won eight of the next nine points, completing a stunning turnaround to claim victory 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11).
The 20-year-old celebrated emphatically, holding his hands to his neck in a symbolic “choking” gesture before roaring in triumph — a pointed response to Ofner’s earlier display.
Basavareddy Keeps Believing and Turns the Match Around
Speaking to the Australian Open website, Basavareddy explained how he stayed mentally strong despite appearing all but beaten.
“In a super [match] tie-break, you always have a chance, so I kept believing,” he said.
“I saw him tense up a little bit, but the balls were quite old there, so every rally was a war.”
Basavareddy’s calm under pressure contrasted sharply with Ofner’s visible frustration, as the Austrian struggled to recover mentally after the scoring misunderstanding.
The American’s resilience was rewarded with one of the most memorable wins of his young career — and a place in the final round of Australian Open qualifying.
What’s Next for Basavareddy?
Basavareddy will now face Britain’s George Loffhagen for a spot in the Australian Open men’s singles main draw.
Loffhagen advanced after his opponent, qualifying eighth seed Yoshihito Nishioka, retired injured while trailing 6-3, 3-1.
Elsewhere in qualifying:
- Arthur Fery of Great Britain defeated former world number 17 Bernard Tomic 6-4, 6-2
- Fery will meet Croatia’s Dino Prizmic next
British Players in Focus at Melbourne Park
Several British players are already assured of places in the Australian Open main draw:
- Cameron Norrie
- Jacob Fearnley
In the women’s singles, Britain will be represented by:
- Emma Raducanu
- Francesca Jones
- Sonay Kartal
- Katie Boulter
The Australian Open begins on Sunday, 18 January, with qualifying drama once again underlining just how unforgiving tennis can be at the sport’s biggest stage.
A Lesson in the Fine Margins of Professional Tennis
Sebastian Ofner’s exit serves as a stark reminder that knowledge of the rules is as vital as physical and mental strength at elite level. In a sport where matches can turn on a single point, a moment of misjudgement — even a celebratory one — can prove decisive.
For Nishesh Basavareddy, it was a breakthrough moment. For Ofner, it was a painful and unforgettable lesson in Melbourne.
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