Jannik Sinner sniffs Luciano Darderi’s late attempt to reach Australian Open QFs | ATP tour | Tennis

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Sinner sniffs away Darderi’s late attempt to reach the Australian Open QFs

Two-time defending champion awaits Shelton or Ruud in Melbourne
January 26, 2026

Jannik Sinner negotiated a brief moment of late uncertainty at the Australian Open on Monday but ultimately reasserted his authority to beat compatriot Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) and advance to the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings struck with authority, combining ruthless precision with a clinical edge that largely kept doubt and drama at bay. After struggling with cramps in the previous round against Eliot Spizzirri – a match in which he later admitted he was “lucky” with a timely roof closure – Sinner escaped a nail-biting finish against Darderi as both his momentum and physical fitness briefly threatened to fade.

“It was very difficult. We are good friends off the field, that is also a small difficulty to put aside,” Sinner said of Darderi. “In the third set I had a few break opportunities, [but] I couldn’t use them… Then I got really tight, so I’m really happy I closed it in three sets.”

Simply too delicious🔥@janniksin beats compatriot Darderi and reaches the quarter-finals for the fourth time.@AustraliaOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/LVdNyAZeO4

— ATP tour (@atptour) January 26, 2026

In his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Darderi, Sinner dictated from the baseline with clean timing and crisp service. Darderi threatened briefly in the third set when he produced a flurry of aggressive basic play, earning four break points at 4-4 and leading 2/0 in the tiebreak. It loomed as a potential turning point, but Sinner closed the door emphatically, winning seven straight points to seal the win.

Next, Sinner will face Ben Shelton or Casper Ruud as he continues his bid to join Novak Djokovic as the only man to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. The pair are now just one win apiece away from a potential blockbuster semi-final match.

With his two-hour, nine-minute victory over Darderi, Sinner advanced to his fourth Australian Open quarterfinal, tying with Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori and Stefanos Tsitsipas for the fourth-most appearances at that stage among active players.

Sinner’s mix of power and efficiency proved decisive in his straight-set victory, allowing him to close the match with no further questions about his fitness. He finished with 46 winners, including 19 aces, and remained perfect against his compatriots, extending to an 18–0 tour-level record against compatriots.

“We put a lot of work into it, especially with the service,” Sinner added. “We have changed the movement a bit and I definitely feel a bit more confident. There is still room for improvement, which is normal, but I am very happy with how I have come back in the new season. At the end of last season I served very well. [and] it is much more stable.”