A show-stopping point in the Rio Open presented by Claro semi-finals ended with both players — and the ball — in close quarters on the same side of the net.

With Francisco Comesana serving to Alexandre Muller at 4-4, 30/0 in the second set, the Argentine dipped a passing shot to put his opponent at full stretch. Pulled out of position, Muller attempted an audacious drop volley that came off to perfection, landing just over the net and spinning back onto the Frenchman's side. Comesana saw it coming and was sprinting toward the net before Muller even made contact — but even with the head start, he appeared to just miss the ball with a desperate swipe.

Deep in the rulebook, it reads that a player is permitted to reach over the net to play a ball in the rare event that it bounces back onto the opponent's side. Of course, the rules also state that a player must concede the point if he touches the net while the ball remains in play.

While Comesana appeared to come within millimetres of making legal contact with the ball, his effort would have been in vain as his momentum sent him spilling into and over the net. Having survived his crash landing, the Argentine was helped to his feet by Muller as the pair shared a smile.

The Frenchman went on to win the match 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3 to advance to Sunday's Rio final, where he will face another Argentine in fifth seed Sebastian Baez.