Tensions ran high at the Italian Open as Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur was forced to confront an unruly spectator during his second-round win over Italy’s Luca Nardi on Saturday night.
De Minaur, playing on Grand Stand Arena, overcame the challenge of local favorite Nardi 6-4, 7-5, but not without drama. Late in the second set, with the score tied at 4-4, a front-row spectator repeatedly disrupted play, prompting De Minaur to halt the match and demand action from the chair umpire.
“Who was it? Who went like that?” the Australian asked, pointing into the crowd. The umpire identified the fan and issued a stern warning: “You listen to me — if you do it one more time, you will leave the stadium. Is that clear?”
Despite the distractions, De Minaur held his composure to close out the match. “It wasn’t easy by any means,” he said afterward. “Sometimes you’ve just got to play the cards you’re dealt. I tried to stay focused and not lose my head.”
Meanwhile, World No.1 Jannik Sinner made a triumphant return to competition following a three-month doping ban. In his first match since winning the Australian Open in January, Sinner delighted a capacity crowd of 10,500 in Rome with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve waited quite long for this moment,” Sinner said. “The crowd was incredible. They give me strength even in tough times.”
Sinner’s return win extended his winning streak to 22 matches, dating back to October. His controversial ban had sparked criticism, notably from Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, due to its timing—which allowed him to miss no Grand Slams and return just before Roland Garros.
Sinner will next face Dutch qualifier Jesper De Jong, who caused an upset by defeating 25th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-0, 6-2.
