Jannik Sinner’s defence of his Australian Open crown remains on track, although there were some worrying signs for the Italian in his four-set win over Holger Rune today.
Sinner prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2 but not without an illness scare that prevented him from warming up prior to the match on Rod Laver Arena.
And the world number one was clearly struggling in the 32C heat, visibly shaking at the changeovers in the second and third sets as he draped ice towels over his shoulders.
“I was not feeling really well,” he said. “I knew in my mind even before the match I would struggle today.
“This morning was a very strange morning because I didn’t even warm up today, trying to go on court as fit as I could.”
A 21-minute fourth-set interruption to repair the net also came to Sinner’s advantage.
“It was for sure very, very tough,” he added. “I knew in my mind that also he had some very long matches, so I tried to stay there mentally. I tried to stay connected with my service game and then in return games see what happened.
“The time off the court, me and the doctor, we talked a little bit, it helped me today.”
The performance of a champion.@janniksin battles his way into the quarterfinals, beating Holger Rune 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-2@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/ZXMo3eb6AA
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025
Next up for Sinner is a last-eight meeting with home hope Alex De Minaur, a 6-0 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 winner over Alex Michelsen.
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Opportunity knocks for Shelton and Sonego
The other quarter-final in the top half of the draw provides a wonderful opportunity for either Ben Shelton or Lorenzo Sonego.
Shelton ousted Gael Monfils, the 38-year-old Frenchman succumbing to a back injury at the start of the fourth set when trailing 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (2-7) 0-1.
Monfils won the build-up event in Auckland and admitted his exertions had finally caught up with him.
He said: “Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the match, but I’m happy with all I gave today.
“It’s been a very long tour for me, playing a lot of matches, spending a lot of hours. Of course, some days are tougher. Today was one where I think I was already very close to the limit, and I think I passed it, unfortunately.”
Sonego ended the fairytale run of American qualifier Learner Tien, winning 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1.
Svitolina provides some pleasure for Team Monfils
It was a mixed day in the Monfils household as wife Elena Svitolina emerged victorious from her clash with Russian Veronika Kudermetova to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The Ukrainian won 6-4 6-1 and said: “This fighting spirit that I have is completely Ukrainian spirit that I try to show, that I try to represent, as well.”
Svitolina takes on Madison Keys next after the American followed up her win over Danielle Collins by beating sixth seed Elena Rybakina 6-3 1-6 6-3.
Iga Świątek ended the dream run of lucky loser Eva Lys in ruthless fashion, the second seed crushing her German opponent 6-0 6-1 inside an hour.
Stayin’ alive
Things ought to get more difficult for the Pole in her next match when she faces Emma Navarro, who edged a tight three-setter against Daria Kasatkina 6-4 5-7 7-5.
The American admitted she had drawn inspiration from an unlikely source as she scraped over the line.
“They played that song, ‘Staying Alive,’ at 5-4 in the third set and I kind of felt like that was really appropriate,” she said on court. “This whole tournament, I’ve just been staying alive and hoping to continue on that train.
“I guess I’m finding my form a little bit. The longer I stay out here, the better I feel out on court.
“Trying to use it to my advantage as much as possible.”
Taking inspo from the playlist. All credit to the DJ.#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/0H41E9tiey
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025
