One tiny celebration, and the momentum in Melbourne flipped faster than a serve that clips the tape.
Austria’s Sebastian Ofner strode into what he thought was victory at the Australian Open qualifying when he celebrated at 7-1 in the deciding super tiebreak, not realizing qualifying tie-breaks go to 10 points.
The Premature Celebration
Ofner puffed his chest, pumped a fist and tapped his temple as if he’d just mentally checkmated his opponent, then walked toward the net expecting the handshake and a ticket onward. Instead the format’s quirk shoved him back to the baseline and to the scoreboard.
The match unravelled in real time: Nishesh Basavareddy surged, winning a barrage of points and eventually sealing the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11), turning a sure thing into a stunning elimination for the Austrian.
When the final ball bounced away, Basavareddy didn’t do a modest fist pump. He cupped both hands to his throat in an unmistakable ‘choke’ gesture aimed at Ofner’s early celebration, a cold punctuation to a furious comeback that had the crowd frozen.
“I saw that he’s very quick. He’s a very talented player. He’s got great hands. He’s very dynamic. He can serve well, hit spots. Just a very complete game overall. Yeah, I mean, it’s going to be his, I guess, first time in the main draw of the Grand Slam, wild card, playing on the center court. Not much to lose. I’m sure that he is going to be really pumped to make a statement.”
Novak Djokovic
That high praise from Novak Djokovic came after Basavareddy’s 2025 main-draw appearance, when the youngster took the first set against the 24-time major champion before Djokovic recovered to win the match, but it helps explain why everyone was watching the American when he stormed back in Melbourne.
Basavareddy downplayed panic and credited persistence after the comeback, saying on the official site, “I knew there was still some time… In a super [match] tiebreak, you always have a chance, so I kept believing,” and that steady belief carried him through the chaos.
Media reaction was immediate and colorful. Ben Rothenberg tweeted, “Holy crap, he lost. After Ofner’s premature celebration, Basavareddy won eight of the next nine points, then hung on to take the tiebreak 13-11. Wildest ride of the Australian Open so far; should make for some viral videos…”
Barstool Tennis summed it up with one blunt take, calling the whole episode “insanity.” Social feeds filled with short clips of Ofner’s sheepish return to the baseline and Basavareddy’s throat gesture, and the debate over sportsmanship kicked off instantly.
For Ofner, the collapse had echoes. In 2023 at Kitzbuhel he blew a lead and lost after looking comfortably ahead, which made Wednesday’s meltdown feel like a haunting replay rather than an isolated lapse in concentration.
Aftermath And Reactions
Sportsmanship became the headline subtext after the handshake at the net. Ofner offered the customary grip and walked off, while Basavareddy celebrated loudly and the crowd took in a moment equal parts relief, awkwardness and television gold.
The match was a reminder that in qualifying, where margins are microscopic, experience matters and rule quirks can be cruel. A premature celebration at 7-1 in a tie-break to 10 points is one of those rare, expensive misreads.
What’s Next For Basavareddy
Basavareddy, the 20-year-old American, now moves on to face Britain’s George Loffhagen for a place in the main draw, and the win gives him momentum after last year’s headline-grabbing performance against Djokovic and growing notice from the tennis world.
The 29-year-old Ofner will rue the error, and remember that in professional tennis even a small celebration can be its own undoing. For Basavareddy the moment is a statement, a gritty bit of theatre that could bolster his belief heading into the main event if he gets there.
Join the conversation on Facebook.
Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
