Jannik Sinner overcame a brief moment of disarray at the end of the match to defeat his compatriot Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) at the Australian Open on the afternoon of January 26, thereby securing a place in the quarterfinals in Melbourne.
The world number two displayed a powerful performance, combining relentless precision with the necessary coolness, largely dispelling any doubts and drama. After suffering cramps in the previous round against Eliot Spizzirri, a match he admitted he was "lucky" to have the roof closed in time, Sinner went on to endure another tense finish against Darderi, with both his pace and physical condition briefly faltering.
Jannik Sinner displayed solid form in his fourth-round match at the Australian Open (Photo: Getty).
“It was a very tough match. We’re good friends off the court, which also made it a bit difficult to finish the opponent. In the third set, I had a few opportunities to break serve but couldn’t capitalize on them. After that I became quite tense, so I’m very happy that I was able to finish the match in three sets,” Sinner shared about Darderi.
In their first encounter, Sinner dominated from the baseline with his precise ball handling and sharp serves. Darderi briefly put pressure on him towards the end of the third set, mounting a powerful attack from the baseline, securing four break points in the ninth game and leading 2-0 in the tie-break. However, Sinner decisively closed the door, winning seven consecutive points to seal the victory.
Next, Sinner will face Ben Shelton in his quest to join Novak Djokovic as one of the rare players to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Both are now just one win away from a potentially fierce semi-final showdown.
With his victory over Darderi after 2 hours and 9 minutes, Sinner reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time, equaling the record of Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who hold the fourth-highest number of quarterfinal appearances among active players.
The combination of power and efficiency helped Sinner secure a swift victory in three sets, thus avoiding further questions about his fitness. He finished the match with 46 winners, including 19 aces, maintaining his perfect record against fellow Italians and extending his ATP Tour record against Italians to 18-0.
“We’ve worked a lot, especially on the serve. We’ve made a few adjustments to the technique, and I feel more confident. There’s still room for improvement, that’s normal, but I’m very happy with how I’ve come back this season. Towards the end of last season, I served very well, and now things are much more stable,” Sinner added.
Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti delivered an inspiring performance, easily defeating American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time, setting up a clash with 10-time champion Novak Djokovic. The Serbian player did not have to play in the fourth round due to Jakub Mensik's withdrawal.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/sinner-djokovic-de-dang-vao-tu-ket-austrlian-open-20260126221813808.htm
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