Australian Open: “Lucky” Sinner cruise into quarters
Jannik Sinner looked rejuvenated as he sailed into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with an assured victory over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi.
Defending champion Sinner said himself he was “lucky” to still be competing in Melbourne after he battled 40C heat and cramping in a testing third-round match.
Only coming off court and having the roof pulled over saved Sinner from a shock defeat by American world number 85 Eliot Spizzirri on Saturday.
But the second seed looked fresher against an injury-hampered Darderi as he surged through the opening two sets, dropping just four games.
There were still some signs of fatigue, as Sinner appeared to fade late in the third set when Darderi put up more resistance to force a tie-break.
But the four-time major winner managed to up his level to secure a 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7-2) win – his 18th successive victory at Melbourne Park.
“It was very, very difficult. We are good friends off the court,” Sinner said.
“In the third set I had couple of break chances, I couldn’t use them and then I got very, very tight. So I’m happy that I closed it in three sets.”