Tennis Ball Boy Caught Ball While Still In Play Leading To Bizarre Rare Moment

A tennis ball boy at the Australian Open caught the ball while still in play, forcing the umpire to intervene to make a decision.

Karen Khachanov met Aleksander Kovacevic in the second round of the Australian Open.

And Russia's Khachanov advanced to the next round after beating the American 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

But the game will be remembered for the classy sportsmanship from Kovacevic, who took matters into his own hands after a ball boy inexplicably caught the ball in mid-air while the ball was still in play.

After taking the opening set, Khachanov was facing a break point at 2-1 down in the second set when he fired a serve to Kovacevic's backhand.

Kovacevic hit a slice in an attempt to return the ball, but his effort appeared to be going into the tramlines, which would have seen Khachanov win the point.

Before the ball bounced, however, a ball boy caught it, with the umpire calling for the point to be replayed.

Khachanov immediately argued the decision as there was a collective moan from the crowd.

Protesting the umpire's initial decision, he said: "It's out here."

Khachanov added: "Where is the rules?"

The umpire told Khachanov 'he needs to let it bounce' as she explained that she had to follow the rules and did not have the power to give him the point.

He replied: "It doesn't matter. No!"

The umpire turned to Kovacevic, who gestured to concede the point in a great gesture given the stage in the match.

Khachanov appreciated his opponent's gesture as he was given further explanation by the umpire.

"I'm not allowed to do it unless he concedes," she said.

To which Khachanov replied: "Show me after in the rules."

A moment worth revisiting as Aleksander Kovacevic showed pure class and superb sportsmanship at the Australian Open 👏🎾 pic.twitter.com/bPZfwSarv2

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) January 8, 2026

After Kovacevic conceded the point, which protected the child from embarrassment, the umpire delivered the decision to the crowd, which drew applause from inside the arena.

She said: "Ladies and gentlemen, even though the ball did not bounce on the court, Mr. Kovacevic is conceding the points to Mr. Khachanov."

Khachanov went onto win the second set before Kovacevic got back in the tie by winning the third set.

However, he stopped a comeback from Kovacevic by claiming the fourth set to win the game, booking his spot in the third round in the process.

The 15th seed will resume his Australian Open campaign when he faces the unseeded Tomas Machac.