Dan Evans provides Andrey Rublev a banana in Australian Open act of sportsmanship

Dan Evans considers Andrey Rublev a good friend, so it might come as no shock the Briton was very happy to assist out the world quantity six throughout their third-round match on the Australian Open.

Throughout a changeover within the first set on Margaret Court docket Area, a ball child introduced bananas onto the courtroom to offer to the gamers, a standard observe given the dietary and power worth packed within the fashionable fruit.

In accordance with Evans, 4 bananas have been meant to be introduced out, however as an alternative solely two arrived and each got to the Briton.

Rublev additionally wished a banana, so Evans threw one to the Russian as they sat of their seats on both aspect of the chair umpire.

Fifth-seeded Rublev ended up profitable 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to maneuver by means of to the fourth spherical, so Evans might be forgiven if he regretted his sporting gesture.

However Evans was comfortable to assist Rublev, who’s rising as a contender for the Australian Open males’s title.

“I fairly like him, so I shared with him. That was about it,” Evans instructed reporters at Melbourne Park after the match.

When requested would he give a banana to an opponent he didn’t like, Evans flatly replied: “No.”

Rublev was grateful for the act of sportsmanship.

“It was a enjoyable second,” Rublev stated.

“Now we have performed nice matches. I feel we performed quite a bit already, and he has gained some matches and I’ve gained some matches.”

Rublev couldn’t bear in mind if another participant had supplied him some meals throughout a match.

“Many of the occasions, usually, you might have every thing on courtroom and perhaps then you definitely cross a [drink] bottle in case you are in attain and your opponent is there,” he stated.

“Usually you might have every thing on courtroom, so it was the primary time.”

Rublev faces proficient Danish teenager and ninth seed, Holger Rune, within the fourth spherical.