MELBOURNE, Australia — During a day of intense heat at the Australian Open, both Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune needed medical timeouts as temperatures soared above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius). The situation became even more unusual when a 20-minute break occurred due to the net becoming detached after a powerful serve from Sinner.
In the end, these breaks in play proved beneficial for Sinner, who noted they allowed him to regain his composure and focus on the match. The defending champion secured his place in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park by defeating the 13th-seeded Rune with scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“I’d rather not discuss how I felt during the match, as I wasn’t at my best. It was evident that I was experiencing physical struggles,” Sinner shared, choosing not to elaborate on his condition. He acknowledged the challenge of competing against both a formidable opponent and his own limitations.
Sinner, currently ranked as No. 1, attempted to cool down by applying a cold towel to his face and pouring water down his neck. He showed marked improvement in the latter stages of the match, particularly after a medical timeout that lasted over ten minutes in the third set and a subsequent 20-minute disruption due to the net issue in the fourth set.
“The delays were somewhat of a relief; I felt better once I returned to the court after seeing a doctor. It seemed my complexion improved,” Sinner remarked. His current streak includes 18 consecutive victories in tour-level matches since late 2024. In the previous season, he boasted an impressive record of 73-6, winning eight titles, a feat not achieved by anyone since Andy Murray in 2016.
Among his accomplishments were securing his first two Grand Slam titles, conquering the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, shortly after being cleared from allegations of doping related to an anabolic steroid. While his case remains unresolved, a hearing is set for April concerning the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal.
In the women’s fourth round, Madison Keys, the 2017 U.S. Open finalist, triumphed over 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina with a scoreline of 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, setting up a clash with Elina Svitolina, who defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1. Five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek continued her dominance by overwhelming “lucky loser” Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 in just 59 minutes.
Swiatek, who will next face No. 8 Emma Navarro, has greatly outclassed her opponents, allowing only 11 games in four matches thus far. In stark contrast, Navarro required three sets in each of her four matches, enduring a total of over ten hours on court and conceding more than 60 games.
Sinner’s next opponent will be No. 8 Alex de Minaur, who made it to the quarterfinals of his home Grand Slam for the first time by defeating Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Another Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, also advanced to the quarterfinals, marking his first major tournament success by defeating American qualifier Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
Sonego’s upcoming match will be against No. 21 Ben Shelton, who advanced after Gael Monfils of France, aged 38, retired early in the fourth set due to injury. At the time of the stoppage, the 22-year-old American was leading the match 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 1-0, after nearly three hours of intense play.
Tuesday’s men’s quarterfinal matchups include Novak Djokovic facing Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev going against Tommy Paul. Sinner mentioned he arrived late to Melbourne Park and opted not to practice due to feeling unwell. The first indication of his struggle surfaced when the score was tied at 3-all in the second set, as he appeared to experience discomfort after a stumble.
Following a successful game from Rune, Sinner slowly made his way to the sideline during the changeover, appearing fatigued as he caught his breath. After the match resumed, Rune capitalized on a double fault from Sinner, taking the lead at 5-3.
The humidity and prolonged points took their toll on both players as it became evident during an exhausting 37-stroke rally in the third set, where Sinner claimed victory. Both players paused to catch their breath, leaning on their knees in exhaustion after the intense exchange.
During a changeover at 3-2 in the third set, Sinner called for a trainer while a ball kid was sent to retrieve a drink. Following a pulse check, he proceeded off to take a break. After the hiatus, Rune appeared to lose his momentum, resulting in a break of serve to fall behind 5-3, prompting him to request his own medical timeout.
“It was definitely a tough battle,” Sinner reflected on the match, acknowledging the physical demands he faced throughout the encounter.
