(VIDEO) Alex de Minaur mocks hostile crowd after beating Joao Fonseca at Miami Open

Australia’s Alex de Minaur taunted the hostile crowd at the Miami Open after securing his spot in the round of 16 of the competition. The 26-year-old defeated the young Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca in the round of 32 with a score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

During the match, De Minaur not only had to face a highly-rated player who is regarded as the next big thing in men’s tennis but had to deal with a big and hostile Brazilian crowd sitting in the arena chanting in support of the youngster. After the match, the Australian tennis star taunted the crowd by writing ‘Rio Open :)’ on the camera.

De Minaur, after the match, admitted that it was a ‘hell of a battle’ to face Fonseca, who, according to him, is a ‘dangerous, explosive player’. The Sydney-born star also highlighted that the 18-year-old’s forehand is very ‘dangerous’.

“It was a hell of a battle. I knew coming in what to expect. Not only is he an incredibly talented, dangerous, explosive player, but he’s playing with so much confidence at the moment and the crowd behind him,” said De Minaur. “I knew I was going to be up against it and it was going to take every single ounce of me. Just put my head down and got to work, so very happy with that win.

"I think ultimately he is a big-time player, so he’s going to go for many, many shots that might not be high percentage. But now he’s playing with a lot of confidence and making them. Earlier, he pulled off some great backhands, hit some backhands [down the line]. That forehand is so dangerous. Obviously, I know he’s still young, he’s played a lot of matches in a row. I knew if I could make this match physical, I had higher chances of it going my way.”