01/23/26 11:49:00
Printable Page
01/23 23:44 CST Sinner overcomes cramps, heat to continue his title defense at
the Australian Open
Sinner overcomes cramps, heat to continue his title defense at the Australian
Open
By JOHN PYE
AP Sports Writer
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) --- Jannik Sinner was limping and trying to stretch
out cramps in his arms and legs, and had just gone down a break in the third
set when the extreme heat rules kicked in at the Australian Open.
Play was suspended for several minutes while the roof was closed on Rod Laver
Arena on Saturday afternoon, and the two-time defending Australian Open
champion returned a revitalized man.
He won five of the next six games to take the third set against No. 85-ranked
Eliot Spizzirri enroute to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 third-round victory that
highlighted a dramatic contrast of intense light and shade.
"I struggled physically today. I got lucky with the heat rule," Sinner said,
agreeing that the cooler indoor conditions suited him much more than the
energy-sapping heat of the first two sets. "As the time passed, I felt better
and better."
Reflecting on his state at 3-1 down in the third set, after he'd dropped as
many service games in this match as he did in winning the entire 2025
tournament, the No. 2-seeded Sinner said he was just trying to survive until a
longer break.
"It started with the legs. Got to the arms. I was cramping a bit all over," he
said. "This is the sport. This is an area I know I need to improve.
"Tennis is a very mental game. I tried to stay as calm as possible. I'm here to
fight, to play every point the best possible way."
He'll next play fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, who beat No. 15 Karen Khachanov
7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Three Italian men advanced to the round of 16, with No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti
beating Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a match on John Cain Arena that
also had to be briefly halted --- in the fifth set --- to close the roof.
Play was suspended on outside courts for at least three hours in the
mid-afternoon Saturday under the extreme heat rules at the Australian Open.
The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the extreme
heat policy was invoked --- in the tournament's so-called heat scale hit a
maximum of 5. The forecast was for a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius
(104 Fahrenheit).
An earlier start than usual on Day 7 and hot weather were no worries for
defending champion Madison Keys and her fellow American Jessica Pegula in their
morning matches. The ninth-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the
opening match on Rod Laver Aren, while sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Oksana
Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.
Next up for the two Americans, and podcast pals, is a fourth-round encounter
against each other.
"I served well, and overall I give myself a full pat on the back for that,"
Keys said of her win. "It gives yourself a boost when you can find your best
tennis, trust your game and try to do the right things."
There was an all-American encounter on Saturday as well --- fourth-seeded
Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the Round of 16.
Djokovic, Osaka in night session
The night session at Rod Laver Arena featured 10-time champion Novak Djokovic
as he continued his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic
plays Botic van de Zandschulp in the first of the evening matches.
The concluding match on the main court could have the capacity crowd guessing
what fashion statement Naomi Osaka might make in her third-round encounter with
Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
Osaka, who has two Australian Open titles among her four majors, walked onto
the court wearing a wide-brim hat, a veil and holding a white parasol for her
first-round match. For her second, Osaka didn't bother with the couture hat,
veil and parasol but was still wearing a jellyfish-inspired dress and matching
warmup jacket.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
|
