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Fuming tennis star blasts ‘where are the rules?’ after rarely-seen error from ball boy during Australian Open
Opponent showed true class with amazing sporting gesture
A FUMING tennis star raged "what are the rules" after a ball boy's accidental blunder.
Russian Karen Khachanov, 27, faced American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the second round at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
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But he was left furious when a ball boy made what could have been a hugely costly error.
Khachanov was serving at a set and a break up but was break point down early in the second set against Kovacevic.
The No15 seed delivered a superb serve out wide that Kovacevic did well to get a racket on.
The ball looped up in the air towards the net but was clearly about to bounce out by dropping between the tramlines - taking the game back to deuce.
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However, before the ball hit the ground to confirm the end of the point, the ball kid caught it in mid-air.
Immediately, the chair umpire called for a let so the point would be replayed - as per the rules - despite the ball clearly not going to come back into play.
And Khachanov exploded: "No! It's out. Clear.
"Where is the rules? Where is the rules?"
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The chair umpire explained the ball boy needed to let it bounce.
But Khachanov was indignant.
He bellowed: "It doesn't matter. No."
But then Kovacevic spoke to the chair umpire and said he would concede the point in a brilliant moment of sportsmanship, knowing he deserved to lose the point.
The chair umpire added: "Are you giving him the point? I'm not allowed to do it unless he concedes."
Khachanov appreciated the gesture from Kovacevic but still continued to the umpire: "Show me after in the rules."
The umpire then explained on the microphone to the crowd on Court 3: "Ladies and gentlemen, even though the ball did not bounce on the court, Mr Kovacevic is conceding the point to Mr Khachanov."
'BIG HEART'
Her announcement was greeted by warm applause from those inside the stadium as the pair carried on from deuce.
It proved a crucial moment as Khachanov held for 3-1 and then won the second set 6-3.
Kovacevic, 25, took the third set but Khachanov claimed the fourth 6-3 to book his place in round three as he looks to build on his semi-final run in 2023.
He may have lost the match, but the qualifier ranked 101st in the world did win some new tennis fans with his wonderful act.
One said: "What a great display of sportsmanship!"
Another wrote: "World-class sportsmanship!"
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A third added: "The ball was clearly out and only one player could have shown a big heart and that's exactly what he did. Replaying the point would have made Kovacevic's silence too bad."
And a final user replied: "Bravo Kovacevic."
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