Stefanos Tsitsipas was furious after being broken in the opening game of his clash with Jan-Lennard Struff. The Greek star lost on deuce after his defence of Struff’s forehand landed out.
Tsitsipas turned around to an advertising box that was holding his towel and unleashed several blows of his racket. When the box fell over, he continued whacking it until his equipment got stuck.
He peeled the racket off the box and returned it to it’s natural position. But his racket was left in tatters, with the head folded in half.
Tsitsipas went on to lose the first set 7-6(1), which his new racket proving a little better. But recovered to take the second and third sets 6-4 and progress to the third round.
After the match Tsitsipas said: “I didn’t really know what I was out on the court until mid second set. I felt really lost out there. I don’t think I felt this way in a long time. It felt like I couldn’t sink in with the ball.
“Everything felt odd in terms of getting the depth I wanted. I managed to figure out a way to make it work for me. It was really difficult dealing with emotions like this. I don’t think I’ve had a match in my life where so many negative emotions overtook me.
“I kind of felt in a weird, tricky situation. I didn’t expect that comeback & that win in the end.”
Tsitsipas will face Cameron Norrie in the next round after the Brit beat Jaume Munar in three sets.