WATCH: Dan Evans, Andrey Rublev go bananas in Australian Open changeover exchange

WATCH: Rublev kicked off his 2023 Australian Open campaign against former world No. 3 Dominic Thiem in the first round.

I’ve heard of going bananas, but this is ridiculous!

In a heartwarming act of mid-match sportsmanship, Dan Evans shared a banana with rival Andrey Rublev in the first set of their Australian Open third-round encounter on Margaret Court Arena.

Cameras caught the Brit hurling about half of his changeover snack towards the No. 5-seeded Russian, who was evidently looking for an early pick-me-up as he aimed to reach the second week.

“I actually asked for four bananas, and I quite like him, so I shared with him,” Evans said after the match. “That was about it. They only brought two, so I donate them too so he could have one.”

Fans were quick to remind the AO social team that this exchange has happened at least once before, sourcing a video from the 2021 Wimbledon Championships where Hubert Hurkacz extended the same grace to Alexander Bublik.

Evans may regret helping Rublev out in retrospect: the latter went on to beat the Brit, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, but the two affirmed their good relationship in post-match press.

“It was just, I think it was just a fun moment,” Rublev explained in his post-match press conference.

“Obviously even if he wouldn't give it to me…I will have banana anyway because the ball boy will bring it to me. But it was a fun moment. In the end, even you ask about this question. It was just a nice and fun moment between us.

“Like he said and you said, we have a great relationship between each other. We played great matches. I think we played quite a lot already, and he win some matches and I win some matches. Yeah, but I won the last one now. Next time he will need to take revenge.”

PS: Must be sad, those were some impressive catches from both Rublev and Bublik!