Dramatic ending between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz sees match point replayed after umpire makes contrasting decisions

A strange incident occurred in the contest between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Taylor Fritz at the Shanghai Masters. Not once, but twice in consecutive points, an accidental disruption caused by the American saw the umpire being forced to intervene in a dramatic ending to a thrilling contest.

Tsitsipas would leave the court happier after picking up a tremendous 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over the No.11 seed, whose woeful form continues. The former US Open finalist sailed ahead in the early stages of the contest, picking up a single break needed to take a one-set advantage.

However, Tsitsipas came charging back. After 11 consecutive holds in the second set, he struck late with a second set point preventing a tiebreak from being needed and sending the match the distance. A second break point was converted to move the Greek 3-1 to the good, quickly backing it up with a routine hold of serve.

A hold to love moved him within one game of the last-16, but some unforeseen events would make sure that he would have to wait slightly longer to get the win under his belt. With the score at 5-2, Fritz was serving to stay in the match. At 30-30, the players were indulging in a rally when one of the balls in Fritz's pocket fell out after hitting a forehand down the line.

It led to confusion from both parties. The chair umpire had his say. "Well if the let came after you hit the ball..." Fritz would interrupt. "I don't know if it came out my pocket." The umpire responded: "Well that is not the question. If my let was hampering you or not."

A video review was then completed, it was clear that the let was called after Fritz hit the ball, gifting Tsitsipas his first match point. Incredibly, the next point a similar situation would occur.

As Fritz returned a forehand, another ball came out of his pocket. No let was called and Tsitsipas hit his next shot out. He instantly strode towards the umpire with his hands out in front of him. This time, the point was replayed instead of being handed to Tsitsipas.

It gave Frtiz another chance to stay in the contest, and he saved that particular match point. Three more came and went as Tsitsipas was forced to see it out. After all those dramas beforehand, the former World No.3 finally got the win under his belt, but in strange circumstances.

After a sharp plummet down the ATP rankings, it is fair to say that Tsitsipas is on an upward trajectory. He put on a very high level of performance against Fritz to come back into the match and secure a very impressive victory.

After reaching the last-16 of the US Open for the very first time, he has continued to make good progress. He was forced to go through qualifying for the Japan Open, but managed to get in before losing in the second round against Valentin Vacherot.

In Shanghai, he has so far taken down Kimmer Coopejans, Luciano Darderi and most significantly Fritz. The 2019 semi-finalist now has a tough but tantalising challenge against Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round of the penultimate Masters 1000 event in 2026. Medvedev ended Tsistipas' best un in Shanghai seven years ago, and now he is back out for revenge.