Jannik Sinner overcame severe cramps in extreme heat to defeat Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open. The two-time defending champion benefited from a timely suspension under the tournament's heat policy, which allowed the roof on Rod Laver Arena to close and gave him crucial recovery time. Sinner now faces compatriot Luciano Darderi in the next round.
Jannik Sinner, the No. 2 seed and two-time defending champion, faced a dramatic test in his third-round match against American Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open on Saturday, January 24, 2026. Playing under punishing heat on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Sinner lost the first set 4-6 after committing a series of uncharacteristic errors, snapping his streak of 26 consecutive sets won dating back to October 2025.
The match turned critical in the third set, with the score level at one set all. Sinner began cramping in his right calf after three games and called for the trainer. Trailing 1-3 and facing a time violation, he appeared on the verge of retirement, reminiscent of his withdrawal in Shanghai against Tallon Griekspoor last October. His coach, Darren Cahill, urged him from the sidelines: “We just need to get to the end of this set. Even if you walk around, it’s okay. We get a break.”
Fortune intervened as the tournament's Heat Stress Scale reached Level 5, triggering an immediate suspension for roof closure. This provided Sinner with an eight- to ten-minute break off court, during which he stretched, lay down to loosen his muscles, and lowered his body temperature—though treatment was not permitted. “I got lucky today,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “At the point when they closed the roof, it took a little bit of time. I tried to loosen up a little bit. It helped... I also changed the way of playing certain points.”
Upon resumption indoors, a rejuvenated Sinner broke Spizzirri twice to win the third set 6-4 and maintained momentum, breaking in the seventh game of the fourth set to secure a 6-4 victory. The win marked Sinner's 18th consecutive tour-level victory and his fifth straight appearance in the Melbourne last 16. “Tennis is a very mental game,” he added. “I just tried to stay as calm as possible.”
Spizzirri, ranked No. 85 and a qualifier who upset No. 28 Joao Fonseca, put up a valiant fight but could not capitalize on Sinner's distress. “I smiled a little bit when the heat rule went into effect,” Spizzirri said. “He's too good of a player to say that [it saved him], but it was challenging timing.” Sinner, aiming to join Novak Djokovic as the only man with three straight Australian Open titles in the Open Era, credited his preparation and mindset for the escape. He will next meet fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in their first head-to-head matchup.
