Rafael Nadal was able to ease through to the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, thanks in part to the help of YouTube.
The Spaniard looked in impressive form as he swept aside Michael Mmoh 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the evening session at Melbourne Park, with perhaps the biggest hinderance for Nadal caused by a rowdy spectator who was eventually escorted out of Rod Laver Arena.
Having come through qualifying, Mmoh had rallied to stun Viktor Troicki in the opening round. However, he never threatened a stunning upset of the 2009 champion, who will next face Cameron Norrie.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev marked his birthday with a routine win of his own, the in-form Russian stretching his unbeaten run to 16 matches to suggest he is a serious contender for the title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas found life a little tougher in his outing but while the Greek survived the scare to move on in the main draw, fellow seeds Borna Coric and Lorenzo Sonego were knocked out.
NO VIDEO NASTY FOR NADAL
Ever the consummate professional, Nadal revealed he did his research online to find out more about second-round foe Mmoh, who had to get through three qualifying rounds just to make the main draw.
The world number 177 managed more aces than the 2009 champion but failed to create a break-point opportunity in a contest that lasted one hour and 47 minutes. Like the fan who disturbed play by shouting and making gestures towards Nadal as he served for the second set, Mmoh perhaps knew he was heading for the exit.
"I always have a lot of respect for every opponent. Yesterday, I was watching some videos of him on YouTube, trying to know a little bit more about him," Nadal said in his on-court interview after the match.
"Every day when you go onto the court, anything can happen - you can win, you can lose. You need to be ready to accept both things."
Norrie is next for the 34-year-old, the Briton defeating qualifier Roman Safiullin in four sets.
NO TIME TO CELEBRATE FOR MEDVEDEV
While Roberto Carballes Baena offered some resistance in the second set, Medvedev provided a further demonstration of his obvious talent with a 6-2 7-5 6-1 thrashing of the Spaniard.
The fourth seed from Russia was on court for one hour and 44 minutes but insisted afterwards his focus will now switch to his next opponent - Filip Krajinovic - rather than celebrating turning 25.
"There's no time to celebrate my birthday in a tournament. I got presents from my wife, but I'll soon look to my next match," he said. "If I'd have lost, I probably would go and celebrate, but I won so I can't now."
Krajinovic defeated Pablo Andujar 6-2 5-7 6-1 6-4 to progress. He was triumphant in the only previous meeting with Medvedev on the ATP Tour, winning in straight sets when they went up against each other at Indian Wells in 2019.
TSITSIPAS FIGHTS LIKE LION, LOPEZ EXTENDS SLAM STREAK
Tsitsipas was stretched to the limit but came out on top against Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 in a gruelling encounter.
Tsitsipas - who reached his maiden grand slam semi-final at the Australian Open two years ago - rallied from a set down to eventually see off Kokkinakis after four hours and 32 minutes.
Local hope Kokkinakis was playing his first major since the 2019 US Open and threatened a huge upset against the fifth seed.
"Great match towards the very end, and I fought like a lion," said Tsitsipas, who next meets Mikael Ymer. "I fought like a real warrior out there, and it was an amazing ending with lots of emotion and great spirits."
In his 75th consecutive grand slam, 39-year-old Feliciano Lopez came from two sets down to top 31st seed Sonego 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4.
Fabio Fognini was involved in a thrilling five-setter against Salvatore Caruso, which ended with the pair engaging in a tense verbal exchange that led to security intervening.
Rybakina moves past Mertens and into French Open fourth round
Elena Rybakina is through to the second week at the French Open, following another straight-sets victory over Elise Mertens.
The fourth seed wrapped up a 6-4 6-2 win in 67 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, to book a last-16 clash with either Elina Svitolina or Ana Bogdan.
Rybakina was forced to withdraw injured on the eve of her third-round showdown with Sara Sorribes Tormo at Roland-Garros 12 months ago.
A tight opening set ensued with four successive games from 2-2 going against the serve, but a crucial break to love in the 10th saw the former Wimbledon champion draw first blood.
She then broke to 15 in game four of the second set to take control of the match, before another in the eighth saw her into the fourth round in Paris for a second time.
Rybakina is joined in the last 16 by home favourite Varvara Gracheva, who continued her groundbreaking run with a straight-sets win over Irina-Camelia Begu.
The Moscow-born 23-year-old, who obtained French nationality last June, is into round four for the first time at a major.
Extending her stay into the second week, having stunned sixth seed Maria Sakkari in the opening round, Gracheva was serenaded with Les Marseillais by the crowd following her victory on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
Data Debrief: Rybakina matches Swiatek and Jabeur
Rybakina becomes only the third player to reach the fourth round at multiple majors on clay and grass since the start of the 2020 season.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion joins an exclusive group of players to achieve the feat, along with Iga Swiatek and Ons Jabeur.
Andy Murray revealed he may play alongside brother Jamie in the men's doubles at Wimbledon, with the pair to make a decision "in the next few days".
Murray and Dan Evans fell at the first hurdle of the men's doubles at the French Open on Friday, as the British duo were defeated 7-6 (8-6) and 7-6 (7-3) by Thiago Seyboth Wild and Sebastian Baez.
It was expected to be the three-time grand slam singles champion's final appearance at Roland-Garros, after he revealed in February that he does not "plan on playing much past this summer".
Murray, who was beaten by Stan Wawrinka in the opening round of the men's singles, now turns his attention to the grass-court season, which "may" include a familiar partnership at Wimbledon with brother Jamie - a two-time mixed doubles champion at SW19.
The brothers have also played together at two Olympics - in 2008 and 2016 - while their prolific partnership helped inspire Great Britain to Davis Cup glory in 2015.
"My brother doesn't have a partner for Wimbledon currently," said the 37-year-old, who last played in the men's doubles at SW19 five years ago alongside Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
"We have spoken a little bit about it. So I may do that, but not 100 per cent sure yet. [We will decide] ahead of time. Obviously, Jamie could also get a good partner, as well. We'll see what happens, but we'll probably decide in the next few days."
Murray also reflected on his and Evans' first-round exit at Roland-Garros, where he felt his progress was hampered by an ongoing back problem.
"It's been frustrating for everyone," he added. "I felt like we had a good chance to do well, and we agreed if we were going to play, we would play to try and win the tournament.
"I have been struggling a little bit with my back the last couple of weeks, so I probably needed a few lighter days anyway."
Mexico 1-0 Bolivia: Experimental El Tri boost Copa America preparations with narrow win
A youthful Mexico stepped up their Copa America preparations with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bolivia in Chicago.
Efrain Alvarez's second-half strike proved enough for El Tri, who fielded eight debutants at Soldier Field.
Two of those debutants went close early on; Ricardo Monreal heading against the bar and Ettson Ayon testing Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, while Ramiro Vaca fired over for the visitors later in the half.
However, the hosts did find the breakthrough within two minutes of the restart, as Monreal squared for Alvarez to control and finish.
El Tri, who will face Ecuador, Jamaica and Venezuela in Group B at the Copa America, will play Uruguay and Brazil before the tournament begins on June 20.
Data Debrief: Mexico maintain Bolivia dominance
Mexico are now unbeaten in each of their last 10 meetings with Bolivia, winning nine and conceding just two goals during that span.
A 3-1 reverse at the 1997 Copa America represents El Tri's only defeat in this fixture.
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