Jannik Sinner showed great determination as he battled through extreme heat and physical problems to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The defending champion defeated American Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in a dramatic match at Rod Laver Arena.
The match tested Sinner both physically and mentally. Playing in very hot conditions, the Italian struggled with cramps and lost his first set since October last year. Spizzirri played fearless tennis and came back from 4-2 down in the opening set to take it 6-4, ending Sinner’s long run of sets without defeat.As the match continued, Sinner’s physical condition worsened. Midway through the third set, he limped toward his players’ box, clearly in discomfort. Coach Darren Cahill encouraged him to stay calm and simply get through the set, even if that meant walking between points. Shortly after, Sinner lost his serve and fell behind 3-1, appearing close to defeat.
This was the moment the Australian Open closed the roof.
Jannik Sinner couldn’t walk or serve and was on the verge of retirement.
Once the roof closed and they turned on air conditioning, he got fixed and the match was over.
Was this fair? I say no.pic.twitter.com/Q6lIDQ9YE8
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) January 24, 2026
At that crucial moment, the tournament’s extreme heat policy was used, and play was stopped so the roof could be closed. The eight-minute break proved vital for Sinner. When the match restarted, he looked refreshed and more focused. He broke Spizzirri immediately and went on to break him twice more to win the third set.Sinner carried that momentum into the fourth set, though Spizzirri continued to fight hard. The American broke Sinner’s serve early with a clever drop-volley and pushed him under pressure again. However, Sinner responded straight away, breaking back with a brilliant cross-court passing shot after chasing down a drop shot.
JANNIK SINNER.
What a tennis player.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 24, 2026
From that point, Sinner took control of the match. He raised his level, hitting powerful groundstrokes and serving with confidence despite his physical struggles. He eventually broke Spizzirri again and closed out the match, saving one last challenge when the American defended a match point before missing a forehand into the net.
After the win, Sinner kept his on-court interview short to focus on recovery. He admitted he struggled physically, with cramps starting in his leg and later affecting his arms. He also said the heat break helped him recover and feel better as time passed.
Sinner will next face fellow Italian Luciano Darderi as he continues his bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title in Melbourne.
