Jannik Sinner defied scorching Melbourne heat and a spirited challenge from Holger Rune to secure a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory, advancing to the Australian Open quarter-finals for the third time in his career.
Under the unforgiving 32-degree sun, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner faced a grueling test of endurance and determination. Struggling physically from the outset, the Italian needed a mid-match medical timeout to regroup. Despite his visible discomfort and Rune’s relentless aggression, Sinner found a way to overcome the odds.
“I think we saw today I was struggling physically,” Sinner admitted post-match. “It was very, very difficult, playing against a tough opponent and also playing against myself a little bit.”
The match was a rollercoaster. Sinner claimed the first set with relative ease, showcasing his powerful serve and precise groundstrokes. But Rune, the 20-year-old Danish prodigy, roared back in the second, exploiting Sinner’s sluggish movement to even the contest.
The third set proved pivotal. After a draining 10-minute game where Sinner saved three break points, he took a medical timeout, clutching an ice towel as his hand twitched from exhaustion. Yet, he returned stronger, capitalizing on Rune’s mounting unforced errors to regain control.
Drama unfolded in the fourth set when Sinner’s thunderous serve broke a metal ring at the base of the net, causing a 21-minute delay. Returning from the break, Sinner dominated, hitting 35 winners and winning 83% of first-serve points to Rune’s 66%.
With this win, Sinner improved to 3-2 against Rune and booked a quarter-final clash with either Alex de Minaur or Alex Michelsen.
