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Ofner's Tie-Break Blunder Costs Him Australian Open Spot in Dramatic Fashion

Austrian tennis player Sebastian Ofner suffered a dramatic and embarrassing exit from the Australian Open qualifiers after a critical mental error. Leading 7-1 in a final-set tie-break, he celebrated prematurely, forgetting the rule requires 10 points to win. American opponent Nishesh Basavareddy capitalized, winning eight of the next nine points to seal a stunning comeback victory. The loss cost Ofner a spot in the main draw of the Grand Slam, which begins January 18th.

Key Points: Ofner Forgets Tie-Break Rule, Loses Australian Open Qualifier

  • Premature celebration at 7-1
  • Forgot 10-point tie-break rule
  • Lost 8 of next 9 points
  • Basavareddy wins with choking gesture
  • Cost a main draw spot
2 min read

Ofner forgets tie-breaker rules, crashes out of Australian Open qualifiers

Austrian Sebastian Ofner celebrated prematurely, forgetting the 10-point final-set tie-break rule, leading to a stunning loss to Nishesh Basavareddy in AO qualifying.

"he forgot a crucial rule: final-set tie-breaks at the Australian Open are played to 10 points, not seven - Report"

Melbourne, Jan 14

Austrian tennis star Sebastian Ofner endured a dramatic and embarrassing exit from the Australian Open qualifiers after forgetting the final-set tie-break rules, celebrating prematurely against Nishesh Basavareddy before suffering a stunning defeat.

Ofner seemed to be in complete command after taking a 6-1 lead in the deciding-set tie-break against Nishesh. When he extended the advantage to 7-1, the Austrian prematurely assumed the contest was over and began celebrating, walking towards the net and even thanking the fans.

However, he forgot a crucial rule: final-set tie-breaks at the Australian Open are played to 10 points, not seven. The mistake affected him badly, and his stunned reaction was evident as he returned to the baseline to continue the match.

After the interruption, the tide turned in Basavareddy's favour as he capitalised on the error, winning eight of the next nine points to turn the match around. The American eventually sealed a dramatic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) victory, leaving Ofner shell-shocked by the abrupt turnaround.

Basavareddy marked the win with a pointed celebration, briefly holding his hands to his neck in a choking gesture before pumping his fist in triumph. On the other side, Ofner could only shake hands with his head down as he realised his mistake had cost him an Australian Open spot.

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

The tournament will feature men's world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who will face stiff competition from 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and defending champion Jannik Sinner. In the women's draw, women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face competition from Grand Slam champions such as Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Huge win for Nishesh Basavareddy! Shows amazing mental strength to capitalize on such a moment. Ofner's mistake was embarrassing, but Basavareddy kept his cool. Hope he makes a good run in the main draw now. 🎾
A
Aman W
As a tennis fan, this is painful to watch. At this level, forgetting a basic rule? His coach and team should have reminded him. It's a Grand Slam qualifier, not a local club match. A very costly brain fade.
S
Sarah B
The pressure must be immense. We can laugh, but imagine the mental toll. He was winning 7-1! Still, Basavareddy's "choking" celebration was a bit much. Win with grace, no need to rub it in.
K
Karthik V
This will be on every "sports bloopers" reel for years! On a different note, looking forward to the main tournament. Hope Sinner and Alcaraz have a great battle. The prize money is insane this year!
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Nidhi U
Honestly, a bit of a shame. Ofner played well to get that lead. One mental error and it's all over. Shows how cruel professional sport can be. Hope he bounces back stronger. 🤞

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