Jannik Sinner prevails over cramps to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Jannik Sinner was experiencing discomfort and attempting to alleviate cramps in his arms and legs, having just lost a break in the third set when the extreme heat regulations were implemented at the Australian Open.
Play was paused for several minutes while the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday afternoon, and the two-time defending champion returned rejuvenated.
He secured five of the next six games to clinch the third set against No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri, ultimately achieving a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the third round that showcased a striking contrast of intense light and shadow.
“I struggled physically today. I got fortunate with the heat rule,” Sinner stated, acknowledging that the cooler indoor environment was far more beneficial than the exhausting heat of the initial two sets. “As time went on, I felt increasingly better.”
Reflecting on his condition at 3-1 down in the third set, after he had lost as many service games in this match as he did throughout the entire 2025 tournament, the No. 2-seeded Sinner mentioned he was merely trying to endure until a longer respite.
“It began with my legs. Then it affected my arms. I was cramping a bit everywhere,” he explained. “This is part of the sport. This is an aspect I recognize I need to enhance.”
“Tennis is a highly mental sport. I aimed to remain as composed as possible. I’m here to compete, to play each point to the best of my ability.”
He will next face fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, who triumphed over No. 15 Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Three Italian men progressed to the round of 16, with No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti defeating Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a match on John Cain Arena that also required a brief interruption — in the fifth set — to close the roof.
Play was halted on outside courts for a minimum of three hours in the mid-afternoon Saturday under the extreme heat regulations at the Australian Open.
The temperature was approximately 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the extreme heat policy was activated — as the tournament’s heat scale reached a maximum of 5. The forecast predicted a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured 10-time champion Novak Djokovic as he continued his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic is set to compete against Botic van de Zandschulp in the first of the evening matches.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: espn.com
