Sinner Overcomes Rune at Australian Open Amid Delays and Injuries

Vegas Tennis Team
6 Min Read

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Open took an unexpected turn as both Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune called for medical timeouts while battling through sweltering temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius).

Then, amidst the intensity of the match, a strange 20-minute interruption occurred when a powerful serve from Sinner caused the net at Rod Laver Arena to become detached from its anchors.

Reflecting on the pauses, Sinner remarked they turned out to be “fortunate,” giving him a chance to recover, set aside his challenges, and ultimately claim a solid victory. The defending champion advanced to the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park by defeating the 13th-seeded Rune with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

“I would rather not dwell on how I felt today. It wasn’t my best performance,” Sinner candidly stated. “You could see I was battling physically. I was up against a formidable opponent and also grappling with my own limitations.”

As the No. 1-ranked player, Sinner found creative ways to cool off, pressing a cold towel to his face and pouring water down his neck. He managed to regain his focus after a lengthy break for medical attention in the third set and another extended pause in the fourth when a crucial net malfunction occurred.

“Those stops were beneficial. I felt a significant improvement after seeing the doctor,” Sinner shared. “My complexion and energy were noticeably better.”

Sinner’s impressive streak now stands at 18 consecutive wins on tour, dating back to late 2024. In the previous season, he dominated the scene with a 73-6 record and secured eight titles—making him the first player since Andy Murray in 2016 to achieve such feat.

This winning year included his inaugural Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in January and the U.S. Open in September, shortly after he was cleared of a doping allegation regarding anabolic steroids. However, his case remains unresolved, as a hearing is scheduled for April due to the World Anti-Doping Agency appealing the ruling.

Meanwhile, in the women’s fourth round, 2017 U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys overcame 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 and is set to face Elina Svitolina, who triumphed 6-4, 6-1 against Veronika Kudermetova. Five-time major winner Iga Swiatek continued her dominance, effortlessly defeating “lucky loser” Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 in just 59 minutes.

Swiatek, set to face No. 8 Emma Navarro next, has displayed remarkable form with a 28-7 advantage in winners and has conceded only 11 games over four matches. In contrast, Navarro had to dig deep to secure her spot, as her match against No. 9 Daria Kasatkina was her fourth consecutive three-set battle, enduring over 60 games and spending more than 10 hours on the court.

Sinner is now slated to face No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia, who reached the quarterfinals of his home Grand Slam for the first time after defeating unseeded Alex Michelsen of the U.S. 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Another Italian, Lorenzo Sonego, also made headlines by advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time at a major tournament, overcoming American qualifier Learner Tien 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Sonego will clash with No. 21 Ben Shelton, who advanced after his opponent, 38-year-old Gael Monfils of France, retired due to injury in the fourth set. The spirited 22-year-old American held the lead at 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 1-0 when Monfils, married to Svitolina, called an early end to the match.

The men’s quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday will feature a showdown between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, along with Alexander Zverev versus Tommy Paul.

Sinner admitted he arrived late at Melbourne Park, skipping warm-ups due to feeling unwell. The first signs of trouble emerged at 3-all in the second set.

During play, a misstep while lunging for a shot left Sinner clutching at his upper left leg, indicating possible discomfort, though the specifics were unclear. After Rune maintained his serve, Sinner made his way slowly to the sideline, visibly exhausted between games.

Upon resuming, Rune seized his opportunity to claim a break point, capitalizing on a double fault from Sinner to establish a 5-3 lead.

In the muggy conditions, both players were visibly drained after lengthy rallies. A pivotal 37-shot exchange in the third set saw Sinner narrowly escape with a stunning volley winner, causing both men to lean over, breathless.

During the break at 3-2 in the third set, Sinner called for a trainer and instructed a ball kid to fetch him a drink from his team. After checking his pulse, Sinner left for a moment, towel draped over his neck and bottles in hand.

As play resumed, Rune struggled to maintain focus and was soon broken to trail 5-3, prompting him to request a medical check on his right knee, which received some attention from a trainer.

“It was undeniably a tough match,” Sinner acknowledged. “Without a doubt, it was very demanding.”

Share This Article
Leave a comment