Stefanos Tsitsipas was barely a metre away from being disqualified from the Australian Open when he almost hit a ballkid out of frustration halfway through the third set.
The Greek star had taken a two-set lead over Jiri Lehecka in their quarter-final clash on Rod Laver Arena and was up 4-3 in the third set, with the score levelled at 30-30.
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Lehecka served wide to Tsitsipas before smashing home the return for a clean winner.
As the ball bounced off the back wall, Tsitsipas smacked it straight back at the wall just as a ballkid was about to go and retrieve it.
Tennis legend Jim Courier couldn’t believe what he had just seen and claimed the No. 3 seed was a very lucky man he didn’t hit the ballkid as it quite easily could have ended his tournament.
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“Tsitsipas just got really lucky,” Courier said.
“Watch what happens here. He swings in anger and it nearly hits the ballkid and if he does, you are shaking hands, losing this match. You cannot do that, that was dangerous.
“Lines people are gone. Djokovic got defaulted at the US Open a few years back for swatting a ball and hitting a lines person.
“But there are still people on the court and if you hit them, you are disqualified. If you hit someone in the stands in anger as well, you are out as well.”
It wouldn’t have been the first time in recent years that Tsitsipas has copped criticism for hitting ball in frustration.
At last year’s Wimbledon, the Greek star copped a whopping $AUD14,000 fine for smacking a ball into the crowd during his feisty third round encounter.
Aside from the near-miss with the ballkid, it was a near-perfect performance from the 24-year-old.
Tsitsipas worked five break points on his opening service game and got over the line when the Czech smacked a backhand volley wide.
He consolidated for a 3-0 lead and with his strong first serve offering Lehecka few opportunities to strike back, coasted to the first set in 36 minutes, sealing it with an ace.
Tsitsipas saved five break points to hold in a crucial third game of the second set as Lehecka came alive and began applying pressure.
Both players dug in and it went with serve to a tiebreak, where the Greek kept his cool to take an early advantage that he never gave up.
In a close third set, Tsitsipas second double fault of the night handed Lehecka three break points in game seven.
But he saved them all to hold, pumping the air in celebration. With the bit between his teeth, the Greek star dialled up the pressure as Lehecka served to stay in the contest and a crosscourt backhand earned him a match point which he converted.
Tsitsipas will now take on No. 18 seed Karen Khachanov for a spot in the final on Friday.
