Jannik Sinner fought through extreme heat and painful cramps to secure his place in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2026.
The defending two-time champion defeated American Eliot Spizzirri in a gruelling four-set battle at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.
Sinner dropped the opening set 4-6 but regrouped to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in a contest that lasted three hours and 45 minutes. At one stage, Spizzirri broke for a 3-1 lead in the third set as Sinner struggled with cramps that restricted his movement and serving ability. Officials suspended play due to the sweltering heat, allowing a 10-minute break. Sinner returned with renewed energy and turned the match around, showing resilience and composure under pressure.
The victory kept Sinner’s hopes alive for a third consecutive Australian Open crown. His next challenge will be compatriot Luciano Darderi, who stunned 2023 semifinalist Karen Khachanov in four sets. Their clash will mark the first meeting in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti advanced to the fourth round after defeating Tomas Machac in a five-set thriller, while Ben Shelton outclassed Australia’s Dane Sweeney to continue his strong run. Both players joined Sinner in keeping the Italian and American presence strong in the second week of the tournament.
