Australia’s Alex de Minaur suffered a stunning upset to a man who conceded he had no idea how he won.
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Belgium’s Raphael Collignon defeated the world No. 8 in a remarkable Davis Cup boilover, 7-5 3-6 6-4, in Sydney on Saturday.
To make it even more impressive, the 91st seed overcame what appeared to be debilitating cramp to secure victory.
Collignon, who has cracked the top 100 for the first time after a strong US Open, maturely fought off de Minaur to claim the first set.
De Minar surged back into the match with 10 consecutive points to swing a clinical second.
And just as de Minaur changed the tide of the match, Collignon was reduced by severe leg cramps.
The Belgian was brave but lost the second set and was further hindered with cramps to begin the start of the third.
At one stage, Collignon was forced to sacrifice a point as players are unable to receive medical treatment midgame for cramp.
“This is so, so stupid from a professional that there isn’t a physio there” Aussie tennis champion Todd Woodbridge said on the Channel Nine broadcast.
“Someone get the physio there for heaven’s sake … this is a health issue now.”
Collignon’s body appeared on borrowed time and there was even an inkling he was about to retire from the match when he removed his hat and approached the net.
But Collignon continued to rocket through games with aggression and an all-or-nothing attitude.
His power ultimately proved too much for ‘The Demon’, who succumbed to the Belgian late in the final set.
Collignon told Channel Nine post-game even he didn’t know how he pulled off the win of his career.
“It feels amazing, I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish the match because I got cramp so bad at the beginning of the third,” he said.
“I tried to play with that strength, tried to go for it, focus on the serve and I don’t know how I won, yeah, crazy.
“I think when you play for your country there is no pain … I am very happy I won.”