Australian Open 2023: Stefanos Tsitsipas nearly hits ball child in quarter-final win over Jiri Lehecka

The ball went extraordinarily near hitting a ball child, leaving two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier surprised.

“Tsitsipas simply received actually fortunate,” Courier stated on the 9 broadcast.

“He swings in anger and it practically hits the ball child, and if it does, he is shaking fingers a loser on this match. You can not do this. It’s a must to watch out. That was harmful.”

The 2023 ATP Official Rulebook is obvious on the matter.

“Gamers shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball whereas on the grounds of the match website besides within the affordable pursuit of a degree throughout a match (together with warm-up),” it reads.

“For functions of this rule, abuse of balls is outlined as deliberately or recklessly hitting a ball out of the enclosure of the court docket, hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly throughout the court docket or hitting a ball with disregard of the results.”

Watch the Australian Open reside and free on the 9 Community: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

A default will be enforced following a singular offence or because of a number of incidents.

“Linespeople are gone,” Courier added on Tuesday night time.

“Djokovic received defaulted on the US Open a couple of years again for swatting a ball … it hit a linesperson.

“However there are nonetheless individuals on the court docket, and should you hit them, you might be mechanically disqualified.”

The complete story: Djokovic defaulted at US Open

Tsitsipas performed down the severity of the incident however indicated remorse when requested in regards to the matter in his press convention.

“I noticed the ball child when the ball got here again,” Tsitsipas stated.

“I am an expert tennis participant.

“I used to be not aiming for the ball child clearly. I noticed the wall, simply went again in the direction of the ball.

“The child, in my eyes, was fairly far-off from me. Would have actually needed to miss to hit that ball child.

“In fact, it isn’t good even to hit it again in the direction of the wall.

“I personally do not suppose I hit it too arduous.

“What I did … undoubtedly I am not completely satisfied about that. I should not have accomplished it.

“Nevertheless it was a part of the second. My ball fell brief, there was slightly little bit of frustration there.

“However issues occur.”

Tsitsipas’ flirtatious reside TV message for Margot Robbie

Djokovic was ejected from the 2020 US Open in a fourth-round match in opposition to Pablo Carreno Busta, after putting the ball in frustration and amassing a line decide within the throat.

Quite the opposite, fortune favoured Tsitsipas in his quarter-final in opposition to Lehecka at Rod Laver Enviornment.

The 24-year-old, who’s nonetheless chasing a maiden grand slam title, will contest his third Australian Open semi-final in succession when he meets Karen Khachanov on Friday afternoon.

Tsitsipas was ousted by Daniil Medvedev in his final two semi-final appearances at Melbourne Park.

He defeated Quentin Halys, Rinky Hijikata, Tallon Griekspoor, Jannik Sinner and Lehecka en path to this yr’s Australian Open semi-finals.

For a day by day dose of one of the best of the breaking information and unique content material from Extensive World of Sports activities, subscribe to our publication by clicking right here!

Australian Open 2023 in footage: Roberto Bautista Agut’s request stuns umpire