Tsitsipas comes back from a set down to advance to AO second round

In his Australian Open opening match on Monday, Stefanos Tsitsipas delivered a remarkable and balletic shot at a critical juncture, propelling him to victory over lucky loser Zizou Bergs and securing a spot in the second round.

Although the Greek seventh seed lost the initial set to the 129th-ranked player on Rod Laver Arena, he seized a break point early in the second set when Bergs sent the ball just over the net. Tsitsipas, displaying agility and precision, sprinted in and reached over to the other side of the court, skillfully slapping the ball off the ground towards the umpire. Remarkably, he managed to avoid touching the net, preventing any penalty.

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The crowd audibly gasped, and even Bergs, astonished, covered his mouth as Tsitsipas clinched the break and a 2-0 lead. This pivotal moment set the tone for Tsitsipas, who went on to secure a 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 victory. Originally scheduled to face Matteo Berrettini in the first round, Tsitsipas adapted to the change when the Italian withdrew due to a foot injury on Sunday, leading to his encounter with Bergs.