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'That's extraordinary': Tennis world baffled by 'impossible' anomaly

chris young
Sports Reporter
·3-min read
A 50-50 split image pictures Victoria Azarenka looking on in disbelief as her shot hung on the net for several seconds, pictured circled on the right.
Victoria Azarenka couldn't believe her luck when a slice shot hit the net and spun around on top of it for several seconds before dropping onto her opponent's side of the court. Pictures: WTA/Ostrava Open

Victoria Azarenka had viewers of the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic on the edge of their seats with a slice that appeared to defy gravity for a few seconds.

The former world no.1 was up against Barbora Krejčíková in the third and deciding set of their match, having dropped the first set to the Czech world no.85.

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Having worked her way back into the match in the second set, Azarenka was looking to close out the match up 5-1 and 15-0 in the potential deciding game when she hit a slice that hit the top of the net, before spinning on top of it for several moments before eventually dropping in on Krejčíková’s side.

Azarenka had time to squat down as the ball teetered on the net, before it finally succumbed to gravity.

Following her 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory, the @tennis_gifs Twitter account posted a replay of the shot and declared that it was "the most shocking netcord I have ever seen in my life."

Azarenka was in agreement, retweeting the clip and adding "Same."

Business Insider described it as an ‘impossible’ shot, while plenty of other fans were in pure disbelief over the one in a million anomaly on social media.

“That is extraordinary,” the commentator exclaimed upon seeing the replay.

Azarenka will move on to face the winner of world No. 7 Elise Mertens and No. 28 Karolina Muchova in the quarterfinals of the Czech tournament.

The 31 year old is looking for the 22nd singles title of her career and her first since defeating Naomi Osaka at the 2020 Cincinnati Open.

Pliskova stunned by qualifier in Czech WTA

Russian qualifier Veronika Kudermetova pulled off a shock victory over world No.6 Karolina Pliskova to reach the quarter-finals of the WTA's Ostrava Open.

Pliskova, a former world No.1 and the tournament's second seed, looked in control after taking the opening set, during which Kudermetova took a medical timeout for a rib problem.

However, the Czech was soon pushed on to the back foot as Kudermetova rallied to level the match before progressing 4-6 6-4 6-3 in just under two hours.

Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic suffered a shock upset loss to qualifier Veronika Kudermetova at her home Ostrava Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic suffered a shock upset loss to qualifier Veronika Kudermetova at her home Ostrava Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Earlier on Thursday, Ons Jabeur ended the run of former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko with a 6-4 6-4 win to reach her fifth quarter-final of the year.

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka came from behind to beat American teenager Coco Gauff 1-6 7-5 7-6 (7-2), while Belgian seventh seed Elise Mertens brushed aside Czech player Karolina Muchova 6-4 6-2.

In the day's late match, Jennifer Brady beat Russian Daria Kasatkina 7-5 6-2, which set the American up for a quarter-final against Kudermetova.

With AAP

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