Melbourne, Jan 14 (NationPress) Austrian tennis player Sebastian Ofner faced a shocking and humiliating exit from the Australian Open qualifiers after he misunderstood the final-set tie-break rules. He prematurely celebrated a point against Nishesh Basavareddy, only to suffer an unexpected defeat.

Ofner initially looked dominant, holding a 6-1 lead in the decisive tie-break against Basavareddy. As he extended his lead to 7-1, he mistakenly believed the match was concluded and began to celebrate, heading towards the net and expressing gratitude to the spectators.

However, he overlooked a vital rule: final-set tie-breaks at the Australian Open are contested to 10 points, not seven. This oversight had a significant impact on his performance, as his shock was palpable when he returned to the court.

Following the lapse, Basavareddy seized the opportunity, winning eight of the subsequent nine points to reverse the match's momentum. The American ultimately claimed a stunning 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) victory, leaving Ofner astounded by the dramatic shift.

Basavareddy celebrated his victory with a memorable gesture, briefly simulating a choking motion before raising his fist in triumph. In contrast, Ofner could only offer a subdued handshake, burdened by the realization that his error had cost him a chance at the Australian Open.

The 2026 Australian Open is in its final qualifying round, with main matches set to commence on January 18 and run until February 1, 2026, at Melbourne Park. This tournament marks the first Grand Slam of the year and boasts a record prize pool of A$111.5 million. Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys are the reigning champions in men's and women's singles, respectively.

The competition will feature the men's world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who will face tough challenges from 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and defending champion Jannik Sinner. In the women's draw, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will contend with Grand Slam winners like Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Naomi Osaka.