Sebastian Ofner is unlikely to ever forget the finer details of tennis scoring again after a premature celebration triggered a stunning collapse in Australian Open qualifying on Wednesday.

The Austrian appeared certain to reach the next round when he raced to a commanding 6-1 lead in the deciding-set tiebreak against 20-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy.

After winning another point to go 7-1 up, Ofner began celebrating and walked confidently towards the net — seemingly overlooking that final-set tiebreaks at the Australian Open are played to 10 points, not the usual seven.

The moment of realisation quickly dawned as Ofner sheepishly returned to the baseline, but the psychological damage had already been done. Sensing an unexpected lifeline, Basavareddy seized the momentum.

What followed was an extraordinary turnaround. The American rattled off eight of the next nine points, overturning the deficit to claim a remarkable 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11) victory from the brink of defeat.

Basavareddy celebrated his comeback by miming a ‘choking’ gesture before raising his fist in triumph, while a deflated Ofner could only offer a handshake and reflect on what might have been.

The win was especially sweet for Basavareddy, who impressed as a wildcard at last year’s tournament by taking the opening set off 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the first round before eventually bowing out.