TennisNH

Alex de Minaur progresses despite distraction of aerial display at Italian Open

12-May-2025 23:34:20 | Guardian

• Australia’s No 1 regains focus to beat Hugo Dellien 6-4, 6-4
• De Minaur will play 12th-seeded Tommy Paul in last 16 in Rome

An overhead in tennis normally means being lobbed but it was a different aerial intervention that troubled Alex de Minaur in Rome.

The Australian No 1 was progressing well towards the last 16 despite the distraction of an unwell spectator when his match with Bolivian qualifier Hugo Dellien was interrupted by a flypast by the Italian Air Force’s acrobatic team, the Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour arrows).