Jannik Sinner Battles Heat and Cramps, Beats Spizzirri to Reach Australian Open Fourth Round

January 24, 2026: World number two Jannik Sinner once again showed why he is among the best tennis players in the world. Playing against USA’s Eliot Spizzirri in the third round of the Australian Open 2026, Sinner had to fight tough heat and hamstring cramps.

The defending champion started the match on a poor note and lost the first set. However, he made a strong comeback in the second set and stayed in control after that. Due to extreme heat, Sinner faced injury issues, and play was stopped for some time.

The match later continued with the roof closed. Sinner then won the second, third, and fourth sets to move into the fourth round. He beat Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. With this win, Sinner has set up a fourth-round clash against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi. The match will be played on January 25.

Sinner Admits Luck Played a Role in His Win

After the hard-fought win, Jannik Sinner spoke openly about his fitness issues and the tough conditions. The world number two said he struggled physically during the match but felt lucky with how things turned out.

“He is an incredible player and played really well. I wish him the best and I am sure he will have a great season,” Sinner said, praising his opponent.

Incredible performance battling on through injury by #TIEBREAK superstar #JannickSinner pic.twitter.com/Jghpp7h8BK

— Ross (@RossSymons) January 24, 2026

‘Heat Rule Helped Me’, Says Sinner

Sinner explained that the heat rule worked in his favor and helped him recover during the match.

“I struggled physically today. I got lucky with the heat rule. They closed the roof and I took my time. As time passed, I felt better and better,” he said.

The Italian also said that difficult matches in big tournaments give him confidence going forward.

“Every big tournament has some tough matches. Hopefully this gives me positivity for the next round,” Sinner added.

Sinner also thanked the crowd for their support, saying it helped him a lot during the match.