Tennis star smashes racket in rage and is tackled by opponent at net | Tennis

Tuesday’s match at the Tulln Challenger ended in an unusual way as qualifier Marko Topo sprang a surprise by defeating the fourth-seeded player.

Zsombor Piros destroyed his racket in a fit of rage after losing in three sets.

Topo immediately rubbed salt into his wounds and shouted in his face as they approached the net to shake his hand.

Piros seemed to be on the road to a comeback after losing the first set to the 483rd player in the world. The Hungarian player broke first in the second set but immediately lost his advantage and failed to convert three consecutive break points.

Topo forced a tie-break in which both men fought to maintain serve, mini-breaking each other multiple times. Piros served to stay at 5-6 while the qualifier had match point.

But Topo pulled off a surprise by sending the winner into the open space as the fourth player entered the net. The world number 212 immediately turned around and smashed his racket on the ground.

The ball bounced and landed behind the baseline, looking mangled. Topo roared as soon as the match ended and continued to roar as they walked to the net. Piros appeared to try to shake hands with his opponent, but the qualifier continued to pump his fists and shout. They finally met at the net before shaking the referee’s hand.

It is Topo’s best ranking victory of the year. Before he beat the Hungarian in Tulln, his biggest win was against then world number 319 Adolfo Daniel Vallejo at the Zug Challenger in Switzerland in July.