LISTEN IN: DEMON DISECTION IN ROME WHILST DEALING WITH ROWDY FANS

As all eyes at the Foro Italico were on the return of Jannik Sinner on Saturday night in Rome, a few hundred metres away, Aussie Alex de Minaur finally got his opening round match underway at the Italian Open, as the world No.1 was wrapping up a winning return to the sport.

Just shy of two hours, the Australian proved too strong for local wildcard Luca Nardi 6-4, 7-5.

In both sets, the 26-year-old laid the foundation getting out out to a 4-1 lead in the first and 4-2 in the second, before being challenged and then was able to regain momentum to close out the match and set up a third round meeting with Bolivian lucky loser Hugo Dellien.

What drew most attention though was a very passionate home crowd for Nardi who were wound up from the warm up and one fan in particular drawing the ire of the aussie for his inappropriate ettiquette.

Whilst cooling down on the exercise bike, de Minaur spoke to The First Serve about what unfolded, as he took things into his own hands to deal with the fans. Listen in below.

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