MELBOURNE, Australia – Jannik Sinner was limping and desperately trying to stretch out the cramps in his arms and legs and had just finished a break in the third set when extreme heat rules saved him.
Play was suspended for several minutes and the roof of Rod Laver Arena was closed on Saturday afternoon, with the two-time defending Australian Open champion returning a man reborn.
After seemingly being on the brink of an unlikely exit – one of his coaches, Darren Cahill, urged the 24-year-old Italian to hold out for a few more matches – Sinner won five of the next six matches to take the set against No. 85 seed Eliot Spizzirri.
There was a 10-minute ‘cool-down’ break between the third and fourth sets – another compensation under the extreme heat policy – and Sinner returned for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory that highlighted a dramatic contrast of intense light and shadow.
“I struggled physically today. I was lucky with the heat rule,” said Sinner, who agreed that he liked the cooler indoor conditions much better than the energy-sapping heat of the first two sets. “As time went by, I felt better and better.”
Reflecting on his state at 3-1 down in the third set, having dropped as many service games in this match as he had in the entire 2025 tournament, the No. 2 seed Sinner said he was just trying to survive until an extended break.
“It started with the legs. I got to the arms. I got a little cramp everywhere,” he said. “This is the sport. This is an area I know I need to improve.
“Tennis is a very mental game. I tried to stay as calm as possible. I am here to fight and to play every point in the best way possible.”
Spizzirri, a 24-year-old American making his debut in the main draw of the Australian Open, had never won three matches in a row on the elite tour. Still, he converted six of his sixteen break point chances against Sinner. No one had taken more serves from the Italian here since his 2024 final against Daniil Medvedev.
In the second set, Sinner received a rare time violation from referee Fergus Murphy as he prepared to serve. In a show of sportsmanship, Spizzirri intervened, approached the referee and said he was not ready to receive.
The American had the crowd on his side until Sinner’s movement was really hampered.
But with the glare gone, the temperature dropping in the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting, Sinner regained his confidence.
He will next play compatriot Luciano Darderi, who defeated number 15 Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Three Italian men advanced to the round of 16, with No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti beating Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a match at John Cain Arena that also had to be stopped briefly — in the fifth set — to close the roof.
No. 8 Ben Shelton defeated Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5) at Margaret Court Arena and was delighted that the roof was closed before he stepped onto the court.
“Having the roof closed here today just amplified the noise,” Shelton told the crowd. “If this roof were open today, I don’t know if I could cover the distance.”
He told the crowd to remain calm and added: “I’m not done yet. I hope you come back in two days because I still have a lot to prove here.”
Play on outdoor courts was suspended for at least three hours from Saturday afternoon due to extreme heat rules at the Australian Open.
The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the tournament’s so-called heat scale reached a maximum of 5. The forecast was for a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
An earlier start than normal on Day 7 and warm weather were no problem for defending champion Madison Keys and her compatriot Jessica Pegula during their morning matches. Ninth-seeded Keys defeated Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena, while sixth-seeded Pegula Oksana defeated Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.
Next up for the two Americans and podcast friends is a fourth-round meeting against each other.
Saturday also featured an all-American encounter: fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova defeated Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the Round of 16.
Djokovic, Osaka in night session
The overnight session at Rod Laver Arena saw 10-time champion Novak Djokovic play Botic van de Zandschulp and Naomi Osaka play Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
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