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Ofner’s Early Celebration Fuels Basavareddy’s Comeback in Australian Open Qualifying

At Melbourne, deciding tiebreaks go to 10 points, a format Ofner misread in the moment.

Overview

  • Leading 7–1 in the final-set super tiebreak, Sebastian Ofner began to celebrate before the chair umpire sent him back to continue play.
  • Nishesh Basavareddy seized the opening, winning eight of the next nine points and closing out a 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 (13–11) victory.
  • Ofner had match-point chances during the turnaround but failed to convert as the American completed the upset.
  • Basavareddy punctuated the win with a brief 'choking' gesture before celebrating with the crowd.
  • The 20-year-old advances to face Britain’s George Loffhagen for a main-draw spot; he drew notice last year by taking the first set off Novak Djokovic, while Ofner is a former top-40 player now ranked around No. 131.