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<\/p>\nTennis shouldn’t have much to do with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, however, on day four at the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner was asked to compare the two.<\/p>\n
He found it awkward when asked which of the two he would rather have as a doubles partner.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev broke an extended run of not getting past the third round of a grand slam, and Coco Gauff revealed she went to a gig days before her first match in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
And five Australians were knocked out on what was a tough day at the tournament for the locals.<\/p>\n
Here are the quick hits from the Australian Open.<\/p>\n
1. Sinner weighs up Kim or Kyrgios<\/p>\n
Nick Kyrgios was pretty vocal in his opposition to Jannik Sinner’s brief doping ban last year and it appears the Italian world number two was listening.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Australian Open podcast Pod Laver Arena, Sinner was asked to choose between Kyrgios and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, first as a doubles partner and, second, just to hang out with.<\/p>\n
And his answer was telling.<\/p>\n
“Playing tennis definitely with Nick \u2014 I don’t want to lose,” he said.<\/p>\n
“But to hang out, honestly, I don’t know.”<\/p>\n
Host Mike Goldstein quickly shuffled the conversation along saying: “We don’t want to put you in a bind.”<\/p>\n
But the bind was bound.<\/p>\n
“Why you ask me this question?” Sinner said as he, Goldstein and Lizzy Hoo shared a laugh, perhaps realising they’d added another brick in the Sinner-Kyrgios lore.<\/p>\n
2. Aussie exodus on day four<\/p>\n
The “happy slam” was not a very happy place for Australians on day four of the tournament.<\/p>\n
Five Australians were knocked out of the tournament in one day. Exodus.<\/p>\n
Priscilla Hon fulfilled a childhood dream of playing on Rod Laver Arena, but she was comfortably beaten by in-form American Iva Jovic.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Jordan Thompson was beaten by Portugal’s Nuno Borges in four sets, and Ajla Tomljanovi\u0107 lost to Elena-Gabriela Ruse.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ajla Tomljanovi\u0107 has been knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open seven times now. (Reuters: Jaimi Joy)<\/p>\n
It means that Thompson and Tomljanovi\u0107 have now been eliminated in the second round of the AO six and seven times respectively.<\/p>\n
Talia Gibson and Storm Hunter were also knocked out yesterday.<\/p>\n
Alex de Minaur was the only Australian who found form on day four. That said, he dropped the first set.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, day five brings better fortune for the locals.<\/p>\n
3. Medvedev snaps second-round hoodoo<\/p>\n
Three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev progressed to the third round after he defeated Quentin Halys on day four.<\/p>\n
He won it in four sets, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, but still looked disgruntled after the match.<\/p>\n
He was quick to remind everyone he hadn’t been in the third round of a grand slam in nearly 15 months.<\/p>\n
His last journey this deep in a major came at the US Open in 2024. He made the quarterfinals of that tournament.<\/p>\n
“It’s the first time in a couple of years I’m in the third round of a Grand Slam, so feeling good,” he said post-match on John Cain Arena.<\/p>\n
Despite finding some form in the early knockings of 2026, Medvedev said he still isn’t feeling quite right at Melbourne Park.<\/p>\n
“I still can’t get exactly used to the court here,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I feel like I’m missing a little bit of power on my shots but it’s good because when you continue winning, usually during the tournament, you find it step by step.”<\/p>\n
Before leaving the court, Medvedev signed the camera “not five sets” and added a smiley face.<\/p>\n
4. Fans not pleased with rain delay<\/p>\n
At a crucial point in the night session on day four, there was a rain delay. Social media was sent into a frenzy.<\/p>\n
“Death, taxes and having rain delays at the Australian Open,” one person posted on X.<\/p>\n
Another asked: How is there a rain delay at the only grand slam with three roofed venues?<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
The brief but disruptive rain delay stopped play on all courts at Melbourne Park. (AP: Aaron Favila)<\/p>\n
At the moment the rain came, Alex de Minaur had just won the second set and had all the momentum.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Frances Tiafoe and Francisco Comesana had to watch the crowd dance along to the Nutbush on Margaret Court Arena.<\/p>\n
On social media, the Australian Open showed us an animated version of the roof being closed on Rod Laver Arena.<\/p>\n
5. Gauff went to a gig days before first round<\/p>\n
Speaking after her win over Olga Danilovic, American Coco Gauff shared that she had spent a lot of the off-season catching live music.<\/p>\n
“I just love experiencing live music,” she said, adding that she had gone to a couple of festivals incognito.<\/p>\n
Gauff even found time to go to a gig in Melbourne days before her first match.<\/p>\n
“I actually saw Amin\u00e9 last week here [in Melbourne],” she said.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Coco Gauff shared who some her favourite artists are. (Reuters: Edgar Su)<\/p>\n
She went on to list a few of the other artists she has seen recently, most of them at Flow Gnaw festival in California.<\/p>\n
The approved list of Gauff’s music includes Dijon, Doechii, Clipse, Kaytranada and Tyler, the Creator.<\/p>\n
The latter is “one of her favourites” even though he beat her in a running race at the festival.<\/p>\n