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Up to 30,000 spectators were admitted to the Australian Open every day.

"Down under", people already thought they were free of corona.

After the failed Wimbledon tournament and the closed US Open, the best tennis players in the world were able to play a Grand Slam tournament in front of fans again.

Even when Alexander Zverev's sovereign victory against his favorite opponent was a few thousand spectators.

The German number one won against French Adrian Mannarino on Friday in Melbourne with 6: 3, 6: 3, 6: 1 and thus survived the third round of the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season for the third time in a row.

For Zverev it was the sixth victory in the sixth duel with Mannarino.

In the past year alone, the 23-year-old had won against the left-hander three times.

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“The duels last year were all close.

I was a bit tired at the beginning, so I tried to play very powerfully from the beginning, ”said a very cheerful Zverev after his impressive performance.

"I wanted you not to have to sit in the heat for so long," he said to the audience.

Usual image: Alexander Zverev (l.) Remains unbeaten against French Adrian Mannarino

Source: AP / Andy Brownbill

Zverev, the last remaining German tennis professional in Melbourne, will meet either the Spaniard Pedro Martínez or the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, who is number 23, in the round of 16 on Sunday.

Five day lockdown in Melbourne

Then, unlike on Friday, there will be no spectators.

Due to the corona outbreak in an airport hotel, the Australian metropolis is again subject to a five-day lockdown.

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No fans are allowed on the facility in Melbourne Park up to and including Wednesday.

"This is a pity.

I hope that it will get better by Wednesday and that we can then play in front of spectators again, "said Zverev.

Although the full capacity has not yet been used on any day.

Without the international guests and due to high ticket prices, the daily number of visitors fell short of expectations.

Two out of 18,000: Spectators were allowed on the facility in Melborne Park until Friday

Source: REUTERS

Zverev started concentrated in the Rod Laver Arena, but had to survive a tricky moment early on.

When the score was 2: 2, Mannarino had two breakballs, but the German number one defended them both confidently.

Instead, he took the serve from the French shortly afterwards and took the first set a little later with the first set ball.

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Even in the second set, Zverev always had the game under control.

From the abdominal muscle problems that had been hindering him since the beginning of the tournament, especially when serving, nothing was noticeable this time.

In the first two sets, the native of Hamburg hit ten aces in his muscle shirt and didn't give Mannarino a chance with any other powerful game.

“Still, I took care of my body.

But it will hopefully get better every day, ”said Zverev.

At the beginning of the third section, Zverev suffered a small phase of weakness and had to fend off a breakball in the first service game.

But Zverev survived this small pressure phase, made a break shortly afterwards and then had an easy game.

After 1:43 hours he used his first match point with an ace.

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