Dan Evans considers Andrey Rublev a friend, so it may come as no surprise the Briton was more than happy to help out the world number six during their third-round match at the Australian Open.

During a changeover in the first set on Margaret Court Arena, a ball kid brought bananas onto the court to give to the players, a common practice given the nutritional and energy value packed in the popular fruit.

According to Evans, four bananas were meant to be brought out, but instead only two arrived and both were given to the Briton.

Rublev also wanted a banana, so Evans threw one to the Russian as they sat in their seats on either side of the chair umpire.

Fifth-seeded Rublev ended up winning 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to move through to the fourth round, so Evans could be forgiven if he regretted his sporting gesture.

But Evans was happy to help Rublev, who is emerging as a contender for the Australian Open men's title.

"I quite like him, so I shared with him. That was about it," Evans told reporters at Melbourne Park after the match.

When asked would he give a banana to an opponent he did not like, Evans flatly replied: "No."

Rublev was grateful for the act of sportsmanship.

"It was a fun moment," Rublev said.

"We have played great matches. I think we played quite a lot already, and he has won some matches and I have won some matches."

Rublev could not remember if any other player had offered him some food during a match.

"Most of the times, normally, you have everything on court and maybe then you pass a [drink] bottle if you are in reach and your opponent is there," he said.

"Normally you have everything on court, so it was the first time."

Rublev faces talented Danish teenager and ninth seed, Holger Rune, in the fourth round.