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Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Epaper
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Teenager Fonseca in Melbourne stunner as Medvedev survives big scare

Published : Wednesday, 15 January, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 193
MELBOURNE, JAN 14: Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca stunned ninth seed Andrey Rublev in a major Australian Open shock on Tuesday as racquet-smashing 2024 finalist Daniil Medvedev narrowly avoided the same fate.

A rampant Taylor Fritz, veteran Gael Monfils and home hope Alex de Minaur also all progressed into round two at Melbourne Park.

In the women's draw, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina were both emphatic winners on day three, with Emma Navarro and Emma Raducanu also victorious.

But the day belonged to the 18-year-old Fonseca, who defeated Russia's Rublev 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) on his Grand Slam debut.

Roared on by Brazilian fans decked out in yellow, Fonseca appeared totally unfazed as he set up a second-round meeting with Italy's Lorenzo Sonego.

"It's the first time playing in a huge stadium," he told an energised Margaret Court Arena.

"There are a lot of Brazilians here cheering for me and I enjoyed every moment, thanks a lot."

Rublev's fellow Russian Medvedev, a three-time losing finalist in Melbourne including a year ago to Jannik Sinner, was heavy favourite against Thailand's 418th-ranked Kasidit Samrej.

But in his first match of the season, the fifth seed nearly imploded in a fit of anger before finding some measure of calm.

"Second and third set I couldn't touch the ball. I didn't know what to do," Medvedev said after finally winning 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

The 28-year-old mangled his racquet as he spectacularly lost his rag in the third set, slamming it into the net camera repeatedly until they both became a broken mess.

There was no such trouble for fourth seed Fritz as he blitzed fellow American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-0, 6-3 to launch his bid for a maiden Grand Slam crown.

"It's never easy playing that first match in a Slam, there are some nerves, so I did a really good job shaking them off early and playing really solid," said Fritz, who took just one hour and 46 minutes to dismantle his compatriot.

France's Monfils battled through a five-set thriller to topple young countryman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and continue the 38-year-old's late-career resurgence.

Crowd-pleaser Monfils became the oldest singles champion in ATP Tour history when he swept to victory at the Auckland Classic on Saturday.

He kept the momentum going against lethal-serving Mpetshi Perricard, 21, over a gruelling three hours and 46 minutes.
"I'm crazy happy," said the popular Monfils.

"Everything is a win now, so, you know, no pressure on me."

De Minaur, nicknamed "The Demon" by Australian fans and media, eased past Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4.    —AFP



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