Five quick hits: Medvedev’s mid-court madness and who’s on day four

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The luckiest loser wins on five-minute’s notice, Daniil Medvedev is expecting a big fine for demolishing a net camera, and the debutant from LA hoping to put a smile on people’s faces.

Here’s the five quick hits from day three of the Australian Open, including when the Aussies are playing on day four.

1. The luckiest loser Eva

Eva Lys lost her qualifying final against Australian Destanee Aiava. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)

German Eva Lys lost her qualifying final to Australian Destanee Aiava on Thursday, celebrated her 23rd birthday in Melbourne on Sunday and had a flight home to Hamburg booked for Wednesday.

But, on Tuesday afternoon, she got the heads up that Russian 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya had pulled out of the tournament and third lucky loser Lys was on deck.

The catch was that she had just five minutes before she had to be on Kia Arena against Australian women’s number one Kim Birrell.

Kim Birrell looks sad during her Australian Open match against Eva Lys.

Kim Birrell was set to play 13th seed Anna Kalinskaya before her late withdrawal. (Getty Images: Graham Denholm)

While matching up against a player ranked 27 spots behind herself and 112 places lower than her original opponent may sound like good fortune, it didn’t prove so for Birrell, who was suddenly the favourite against a relative unknown as opposed to an underdog in a contest she’d spent days preparing for.

Lys admitted she played with complete freedom and it proved effective as she rolled over Birrell 6-2, 6-2 in just 70 minutes.

“If you’re going out having zero expectations, just being thankful and happy that you get another match, it definitely gets easier,” Lys said.

“One thing that definitely helped me is to not be negative; I was making mistakes but I was still happy to be on court, so I think that’s definitely the key to today’s win.”

2. Medvedev takes it out on the net

Up to old tricks?

Clearly frustrated by falling behind in his Centre Court clash, hot-headed Daniil Medvedev repeatedly slammed his racquet into the net during his match against world number 418 Kasidit Samrej.

Daniil Medvedev smashes his racquet at a camera installed on the tennis net

Medvedev furiously destroyed the net during the third set. (Getty: Darrian Traynor)

As Samrej closed in on winning the third set, the 23-year old from Thailand beat Medvedev at the net and won the point.

Anger then boiled over for the former world number one, as he whacked the camera on the net — five times to be exact.

The incident was immediately followed by boos from the Melbourne crowd as the Russian was handed a violation.

Medvedev managed to move past his tantrum to save two set points but Samrej eventually sealed it.

The game was postponed while ball kids swept the debris off the court and tournament officials reattached the bottom of the net to the court surface.

Under grand slam rules governed by the International Tennis Federation, players can be fined under the “Abuse of Racquets Or Equipment” category.

The maximum fine for each violation is $US50,000 ($80,000).

“Honestly, I hope [the fine is] not too big,” Medvedev said at the press conference.

“The fine is usually for breaking the racquet, and the camera is going to cost some, but I don’t think Go Pro is that expensive. 

“What I have to say is the camera was very, very strong.”

Despite the valiant effort from Samrej, who won a wildcard play-off to be here, Medvedev won the match in a five-set battle and now moves on to the second round.

3. Rowdy fans cop a slap on the wrist

One of the great things about the Australian Open is the extraordinary encouragement the home supporters give home players.

In the night sessions that does occasionally verge towards going a bit too far though.

During the tense second set between Alex de Minaur and Botic can de Zandschulp, one supporter cried out “I love you Demon,” right before the Dutchman began his service motion.

It was a crucial moment with the scores at deuce at 4-4.

Van de Zandschulp managed to hold his serve, but chair umpire Louise Engzell was not impressed.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s very disturbing for both players when you’re screaming before the service motion,” she said, as severe a tongue lashing as you’re likely to get from an umpire.

4. ‘I just want to give people good news’: LA’s grand slam debutant putting a smile on people’s face

Tristan Boyer smiles

Tristan Boyer says some of his friends are now homeless. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

Nobody who has seen any of the news will fail to be aware of the catastrophe that’s befalling LA right now.

But Tristan Boyer — the world number 136 who calls the Los Angeles area of Altadena home and was making his grand slam main draw debut — simply had to put all that to one side.

And the 23-year-old did that superbly, beating Argentine world number 96 Federico Coria in five sets, 6-3, 6-7(3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

“I think being a high-level athlete, there’s always kind of distractions from what you are doing,” the 23-year-old said.

“I kind of just treat this as another one of those when it’s time to kind of lock in.

“One thing that you focus on a lot is just controlling your controllables and what you can control. That’s just a general thing. This kind of falls into that category, it’s something that I can’t really do anything about right now.

“But I mean, obviously when I come off the court  … it’s crazy what’s happening.

“I’m from Altadena. My dad had to evacuate our house, luckily it’s okay, but we have friends and family who are homeless now. It’s really, really devastating to see.

“I just want to give people good news. We have friends there, and they’re following me. So, yeah, I just want to do the best I can for them.”

5. Which Australians are playing on day four?

Here’s when all six Australians are playing on day four at Melbourne Park (all times AEDT):

  • James Duckworth vs Roberto Carballés Baena second on Court 3
  • Jordan Thompson (27) vs Nuno Borges not before 1pm on John Cain Arena
  • Sebastian Korda (22) vs Aleksandar Vukic not before 2pm on Kia Arena
  • Diana Shnaider vs Ajla Tomljanović (WC) from 5pm on John Cain Arena
  • Jack Draper (15) vs Thanasi Kokkinakis not before 7pm on John Cain Arena
  • Paula Badosa (11) vs Talia Gibson (WC) last on Margaret Court Arena
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