Temperatures are rising in Melbourne and spirits are heating up.
A visibly tipsy spectator sent the fingers of honor to the Spanish player in the middle of a match.
A little earlier the two Italian players Fognini and Caruso engaged in a nice rehearsal of the commedia dell'arte.
The gesture: the middle finger to Nadal
So far, everything is going well for Rafael Nadal, the 2nd in the world who has not experienced any difficulty in disposing of the American Michael Mmoh (177th and from qualifying) 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in 1h47 .
The Mallorcan did not seem to know of a physical alert, although he had suffered from back pain for two weeks.
He was just briefly disturbed by a noisy spectator and apparently in love with drink who was evacuated while, placed in his line of sight, she amused herself by giving him fingers of honor!
In the third round, Nadal will face the Briton Cameron Norrie (69th).
A fan just gave Rafa the finger.
Look at his reaction: “what, me?
“😂 pic.twitter.com/fY3npCNTrn
- Tennis GIFs 🎾🎥 (@tennis_gifs) February 11, 2021
The Frenchwoman: Kristina Mladenovic
The Northerner, 52nd in the world, qualified without great difficulty for the third round by eliminating the Japanese Nao Hibino (76th) 7-5, 6-1.
Kristina
Mladenovic (27) has not played the 3rd round in Melbourne since 2016, when she was beaten at this stage by Daria Gavrilova.
Since then, she had lost each time in the first round.
This Saturday, she will face American Jessica Pegula, 61st, 26, for a place in the second week.
🇫🇷 It goes for Mladenovic!
The French dominated the Japanese Hibino (7-5, 6-1) and climbed to the 3rd round 🙌
Don't miss a thing of the Australian Open on Eurosport and https://t.co/7qbNJch1A0#AusOpen #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/YLwK9kv0Na
- Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) February 11, 2021
“At the beginning, it was difficult, it was not very high quality for both of them with a lot of unforced errors,” explained the Frenchwoman.
I was led 5-3 and not satisfied with my level of play. I continued to look for my adjustment and how to get out of it under these conditions.
As I went along, I found my support and my strikes.
I didn't tighten up, I didn't go into the negative.
There will be two French players in the third round, after the qualification Wednesday of Fiona Ferro.
For the men, only Adrian Mannarino is present at this stage.
The perf ': Feliciano Lopez
The Spanish left-hander in pure attacking tennis (65th) is still doing great things, while he goes happily on his 40 years, in September.
Last night, he dominated the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, seeded No. 31, by recovering a handicap of two sets (5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4).
Lopez will face Rublev (8th) in the next round.
“I recently became a father and didn't train a lot,” he said.
So being on lap 3 is something really special for me.
I am very happy.
"
The belly: Sofia Kenin
The young American title holder, 22, collapsed under the pressure and had to lower the flag under the blows of the Estonian Kaia Kanepi (94th), 6-3, 6-2.
"Obviously, my opponent played very well, pleaded the 4th world, unhappy finalist at Roland Garros.
Me, I was not in the rhythm.
I was way too nervous and couldn't let go of my punches.
[…] It's pressure that I feel.
I can't find my tennis, I can't feel the game. It was already the case in the first round.
Since my title here last year, I feel like everyone is waiting for me to win all my matches.
"
The number: 25
Russian Daniil Medvedev (4th in the world) celebrated his 25th birthday on Thursday.
He marked the blow by qualifying brilliantly at the expense of the Spaniard Carballes (99th) 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 in 1:44, signing in passing 13 aces and 35 winning shots.
“If I had lost, I would have celebrated
(Editor's note: his birthday)
but there, I cannot, he said.
Tomorrow I am training to be ready for the next game.
»In this case, against the Serbian Filip Krajinovic (33rd).
Image: Fognini and compatriot Caruso get confused
Fabio Fognini (n ° 16) hardly got rid of his compatriot Salvatore Caruso in five innings 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (14/12).
The two men engaged, on the court after match point, in nice verbal jousting before the tournament supervisor intervened at a time when the two Transalpins would undoubtedly come to blows.
During the whole meeting, Fognini did not stop complaining about the luck of his opponent.
This had the gift of annoying the latter, very calm during the game.
"Am I not allowed to say that you were lucky?"
What's the matter, Fognini asked.
So why are you breaking my balls?
"
🇮🇹⚔🇮🇹 Crazy Italian-Italian match!
Fognini defeats his compatriot Caruso in the super tie-break then the two men ... get confused 👀 # AusOpen #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/ZdTkEUzBo9
- Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) February 11, 2021