WATCH: Stefanos Tsitsipas with early shot of the year contender that left opponent stunned – ‘He made that?’

Shahida Jacobs
Zizou Bergs stunned
Credit: World Wide of Sports - Zizou Bergs reaction after a Stefanos Tsitsipas shot

Stefanos Tsitsipas pulled off one of the most impossible shots in tennis during his come-from-behind victory over Zizou Bergs at the Australian Open.

Seventh seed Tsitsipas was initially due to face former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the first round, but the Italian withdrew due to injury and lucky loser Bergs got his chance.

The world No 129th-ranked Belgian was in no mood to roll over quickly as he won the opening set with a break of serve in game 11.

However, Tsitsipas was quick out of the blocks in the second set and turned the screws in the second game as he produced a remarkable winner on break point.

After an extended rally, Bergs somehow managed to get his racket to one of Tsitispas’ attempted cross-court passing shots and the ball just bounced over the net.

It looked like he had won the point as the prodigious spin meant the ball was bouncing back to his side of the court. Tsitsipas, though, chased it down and smashed the winner from the cutest of angles even though the ball was already in his opponent’s side – in the air of course and without touching the net.

The commentators certainly enjoyed.

“Has he made it? He made it! It was legit, it was incredible. How tall is he? Six five? He used every inch of his reach to make this happen, incredible,” one shouted.

Later replays showed a surprised Bergs putting his hand to his mouth after the ridiculous winner, sort of questioning how the Greek managed to pull it off.

Tsitsipas himself later revealed that he felt the shot turned the match around for him as he broke the Bergs while a second break in game six earned him the set. Three breaks in the third set and another two in the fourth earned him the 5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win.

“That shot was extraordinary. I don’t know how I even made that shot,” the world No 7, who faces either Alexander Vukic or Jordan Thompson in the second round, said.

I thought for a split second that I have to prepare for the next point, but I guess not wanting to give up and just giving it a try gave me that point, which I think turned around the match.”

READ MORE: Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals his two big goals for the 2024 season

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