Russian Rublev defeated the 25th seed Evans 6-4, 6-2, 6-3

The fifth-placed seed On the same day that former world number one Karolina Pliskova breezed into the round of 16 in the women’s event at the Australian Open, Andrey Rublev survived a third round scare against British player Dan Evans.

On a beautiful afternoon at Melbourne Park, the red-headed Russian Rublev defeated the 25th seed Evans 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 with 60 winners.

Two years ago, Rublev made it to the quarterfinals, but in his previous match, after being warned for an audible profanity, he went off on the chair umpire.

But against Evans, everything went swimmingly. When Rublev couldn’t find anything to eat during a change of ends at Margaret Court Arena’s sunny change of ends, Evans obligingly gave the Russian a banana.

To advance to the quarterfinals, Rublev will face the young Danish talent Holger Rune. “I didn’t ask him (for one), I asked the ball-boy,” Rublev remarked.