Daily Dose of Social Media: Fonseca’s pre-match ritual before Rublev clash, Conchita Martinez laughs off Andreeva’s quips

In a new Daily Dose of Social Media, we review some of the moments that marked another day at the Australian Open. Joao Fonseca was the star of the day after unexpectedly eliminating Andrey Rublev; in the minutes prior, the cameras captured the Brazilian in a meditation routine in front of the gym mirror.

On the other hand, Daniil Medvedev exploded in fury and broke a racket in his first-round match, while Francisco Cerundolo had an annoyed response to an Argentine fan who was supporting him. Meanwhile, Gael Monfils shared laughs with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard after an epic clash, and Mirra Andreeva joked in a Q&A with her coach Conchita Martinez.

Medvedev smashes racket in gruelling Australian Open battle

Daniil Medvedev once again broke his racket during a challenging match against Lebanese player Kasidit Samrej. The 3-time Australian Open finalist entered as the 5th seed and one of the favourites for the title but faced unexpected difficulties in a gruelling five-set showdown at Rod Laver Arena. The Russian eventually secured victory over the world No. 418 with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

The former world No. 1 started strong, winning the first set, but his performance dipped as Samrej rose to the occasion, taking a two-sets-to-one lead. After losing a crucial point that handed Samrej the third set 6-3, Medvedev smashed his racket against the net, destroying the camera installed in the central part in a fit of frustration.

Despite the setback, Medvedev advanced to the second round, where he will face 19-year-old American rising star Learner Tien, currently ranked world No. 121. Tien, a qualifier, defeated Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli in the first round and will now face Medvedev in what is likely to be a main-stage match at Melbourne Park.

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Fonseca meditates before stepping onto the court

Joao Fonseca became the standout star of the final day at the Australian Open after a remarkable first-round victory over World No. 9 Andrey Rublev. The Brazilian continues his meteoric rise, securing his 14th consecutive win and guaranteeing his spot in the top 100 by the end of the tournament.

A viral video captured Fonseca meditating moments before his clash with Rublev, showcasing his mental preparation. The 18-year-old demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the match, staying focused against the elite opponent. Fonseca’s meditation practice draws comparisons to Novak Djokovic, who often credits it as key to his success.

In the second round, Fonseca faces a tough challenge against Italian Lorenzo Sonego. The rising South American talent expressed his ambition to continue advancing in the tournament, quickly gaining attention in the tennis world. Currently ranked No. 98 in the live rankings, a second-round victory would push him up to No. 86.

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French duo Monfils and Mpetshi Perricard bond after epic clash

Gael Monfils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard delivered one of the best matches of the Australian Open's first round in a generational battle between two of France’s top-ranked players. The 38-year-old veteran Monfils secured a five-set victory 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-7(5), 6-4 against the 21-year-old after nearly four hours of play.

Beyond the court action, both players were seen demonstrating their camaraderie by sitting together on stationary bikes in the gym shortly after the match. In the video, Monfils is seen joking as usual, while Mpetshi Perricard stays focused on his workout and listens attentively to his compatriot.

Monfils earned his 35th Australian Open win and 126th Grand Slam main draw victory. The former world No. 6 has successfully passed the Melbourne opener in 16 of his 18 appearances. His next challenge will be against Germany’s world No. 101 Daniel Altmaier, who overcame Francisco Comesaña in five sets.

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Manchester City star Erling Haaland names Alcaraz and Ruud as favourite tennis players

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland revealed in a Q&A session that his favourite sport besides football is tennis and shared his current favourite player. The Norwegian has established himself as one of the elite players in recent years, considered one of the best forwards of the era, with 284 career goals at just 24 years old.

In a Q&A with Eurosport, the Premier League footballer shared his tennis favourite. “(Rafael) Nadal, but he’s finished now, so the Spanish one, (Carlos) Alcaraz,” he commented. “Or Casper Ruud, Norwegian,” he added, referring to his compatriot and 3-time Grand Slam runner-up.

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Mirra Andreeva and Conchita Martinez share a humorous moment during Q&A session

Mirra Andreeva and Conchita Martinez showcased that their player-coach relationship extends beyond the teenager's achievements on the court. The world No. 15 has been training with the former Wimbledon champion for nine months, yielding great results while also strengthening their bond.

During a Q&A session, the charismatic 17-year-old joked when asked, "Why is this partnership working so well?"

"You answer first," Andreeva quickly said to her coach, but Martinez insisted the teenager should go first. "Who are you asking?" the Russian inquired.

"I asked you, young lady," the interviewer clarified.

"You old people, okay," Andreeva quipped, prompting laughter from Conchita Martinez, 52. "I just think we have a lot in common. It feels like I've known her for a long time, but it’s been just seven months, and I’m already tired," Andreeva joked.

"You see what I have to deal with every day?" Martinez said, laughing. "She keeps me on my toes," the Spanish coach added.

The world No. 15 made a remarkable debut at the Australian Open, defeating Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the second round. Her next challenge will be against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima as she aims to reach the last 32 of the season's first Grand Slam.

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Cerundolo harshly responds to Argentinian fan

Francisco Cerundolo had a curious moment during his first-round match against Alexander Bublik at the Australian Open when he responded angrily to a fan who was cheering for him. It was only the first set of the match, with the Argentine 31st seed tied at 3-3 against Bublik at Kia Arena, where the Argentine crowd showed up to support one of their main players on the ATP Tour.

While Cerundolo was preparing to receive Bublik's serve, broadcasts captured the shout of an Argentine fan interrupting the silence before Bublik's serve, yelling ‘Vamos Francisco.’ However, the World No. 31 was not happy with the comment, particularly because of the moment of concentration, and angrily responded, ‘Shut up idiot’ in Spanish.

The win eventually went to Cerundolo, who, after a tough first set, took control of the match, closing out the victory 7-6, 6-3, 6-2. In the second round, he will face his compatriot Facundo Diaz Acosta.

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