World No. 14 Tommy Paul goes nuclear after all-time ‘choke’

A reigning Australian Open semi-finalist had two match points before completely falling apart in an all-time capitulation.

Tommy Paul's Australian Open meltdown

American Tommy Paul would have extremely fond memories of the 2023 Australian Open, when he made a memorable run to the semi-finals.

He will want to forget the 2024 edition as soon as possible.

Paul, the 14th seed, held two match points in the fourth set tie-break during his clash with Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

He was unable to capitalise, with Kecmanovic claiming the tie-break 9-7.

While it wasn’t a fatal blow as the result drew the pair level, there were few people who would have expected what happened next.

Paul failed to win another game, succumbing 6-0 in the fifth set in 19 stunning minutes.

“A staggering turn of events here,” commentator David Culbert said in that fifth set.

One of Paul’s racquets felt the brunt of his anger as he meekly departed the tournament in a 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6 6-0 defeat on Margaret Court Arena.

The racquet Paul destroyed was clearly one he never wanted to see again and he gifted it to a fan as he made his exit after the inexplicably capitulation.

No using that racquet again. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

It’s only broken a little bit. Photo by WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Fans were stunned by the American’s implosion.

One fan called it “shockingly awful”.

Another called him a “choke artist”.

Plenty more were just stunned by the upset.

All American tennis players choke when the pressure is the greatest. Somehow there has to be something that can be done to teach not to choke.

— Nac (@Getafe1) January 20, 2024

While the women’s draw has thrown up more than a few upsets with just seven seeded players left in the round of 16, there are 13 left in the men’s draw.

For world No. 60 Kecmanovic, who now faces No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 16, he has reached the fourth round for just the second time in his career after the 2022 Australian Open.

Tommy Paul couldn’t believe it. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Miomir Kecmanovic is into the fourth round. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Speaking after the result, the 24-year-old was just as stunned as everyone else about how he flipped the script on the American.

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Kecmanovic said to laughs from the crowd.

“It was supposed to be my day today I guess and I had a bit more luck in the end. I played some fantastic tennis and I’m happy to be into the fourth round again.

“It feels like home, there are so many Serbian people here. It feels good to be here – I’m always happy when I come to Melbourne.”

Kecmanovic may need to adopt the nickname Lazarus after his resurrection from the dead against Paul, after he had survived two match points against 24th seed Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round as well.