When their paths crossed after first-round wins, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva saw Ons Jabeur make a light-hearted gesture that signaled she could see her.
The three-time Grand Slam runner-up probably didn't really see what was coming her way at the Australian Open.
The first set was over in 20 minutes. The match was over in 54 minutes yesterday, with Andreeva advancing to the third round 6-0, 6-2.
"In the first set, I showed amazing tennis," she said. "I honestly didn't expect that. I'm super happy with the level that I showed."
Andreeva went into the tournament knowing a first main draw win - completing a Grand Slam set - could pay off with a second-round encounter against one of her childhood tennis inspirations.
Sixth-seeded Jabeur reached back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022 and was runner-up at Wimbledon again last year. Andreeva admired the Tunisian and closely observed her approach to the sport, on and off court.
Jabeur is renowned for her drop shots and slice, something that Andreeva wanted to emulate, and her backhand drop shot to earn set points in the first was a classic.
"I knew what she was going to do," Andreeva said. "I'm also not very bad at dropshots [but] I decided at first to not do a lot of dropshots, because I think she's better.
"It was just the momentum when I decided to do a lot. I think she's still better than me in this, but I will improve!"
Her performance was almost mirrored by 20-year-old fellow Russian Maria Tomafeeva, who beat Wozniacki, the winner at Melbourne Park in 2018, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, in her main draw Grand Slam debut.
Wozniacki, who had two children before returning to the WTA Tour last year after 3 years away, led by a set and 2-0 before Tomafeeva turned the match around with devastating hitting, including 40 winners.
Second seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her title defense by beating 16-year-old Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova 6-3 6-2.
US Open champion Coco Gauff eased through, beating fellow American Caroline Dolehide 7-6 (7/2), 6-2.
On the men's side, defending champion Novak Djokovic challenged a heckler to "say that to my face" during the fourth set of a testy second-round win over local favorite Alexei Popyrin.
The match had been going for three hours by then, and Djokovic had dropped the second set and had to save set points in the third.
After the outburst, he won three straight games to take the match away from the Aussie player en route to a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4) 6-3 victory.
Djokovic has been dealing with a sore wrist and said after his opening match - a four-hour, four-set win over 18-year-old qualifier Dino Prizmic - that he hasn't been feeling well.
He credited Popyrin with bringing out a gameplan to unsettle him.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost the final here last year to Djokovic, also had a tough time against Aussie Jordan Thompson before winning 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Jannik Sinner raced into the third round with a 6-2 6-2 6-2 demolition of Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong.
The fourth seed skipped the warm-up tournaments and said that meant it was all the more important to make the most of the days when he is not playing.
"Tomorrow I have a day off, I'm trying to practice myself into match rhythm. I'll also go to the gym I'm skinny but it's okay," he said.
"Of course it's all muscle," he added with a laugh. "Unfortunately not but it's okay. I'm happy with my physicality at the moment. Of course, it's a dream to have like the Baywatch physicality but it's okay."
