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Denis Shapovalov battles with banana in Melbourne

ByCody Fitzpatrick

Published Jan 15, 2018

Denis Shapovalov got through his first-round match in Melbourne fairly handily, beating fellow teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

The Canadian's battle with his bananas, though, was a five-setter.

This win is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!#AusOpen @denis_shapo pic.twitter.com/pW3hPnzkmp
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 15, 2018

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Despite going 5 for 8 on break points, Shapovalov went only 1 for 4 on opening the bananas. He'll want to improve in that area as the fortnight progresses.

we appreciate @denis_shapo's persistence in getting his banana unpeeled! #ProTip: open from the bottom for optimal easy peel with less phloem (strings). 🍌🍌
— Chiquita (@Chiquita) January 15, 2018

In other banana-related news, 2017 semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe received a code violation for letting the lack of a courtside banana stop her from starting the second set on time.

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CoCo Vandeweghe had gotten her first code violation earlier for time violation/civil disobedience: refusing to take court without eating a banana first. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/6Opg7xon2N
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 15, 2018

She eventually got her banana, but she went on to lose the match to Timea Babos in straight sets.

Shapovalov will face the No. 15 seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The 18-year-old stunned the Frenchman at the US Open last year.

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