Jannik Sinner Dramatically Saved by the Roof at Australian Open
Australian Open
January 24, 2026
Jannik Sinner looked for all the world a broken man. But great players don’t give up easily.
Jannik Sinner has the heart of a lion – and that’s why he will defend his title at Wimbledon 2026 with equal passion.
First his calves cramped up in Melbourne. Then his arms. He turned even paler than usual. He could barely move.
World number 85 Eliot Spizzirri must have seen victory in sight. He was 3-1 up in the third. The defending champion was visibly wilting. Sinner seemed close to retirement.
Then, with temperatures pushing 35 degrees, the tide turned. They closed the roof because the heat scale hit the magic number 5.
Sinner had time to recover slightly. He took on fluids and embraced the shade. His muscles loosened. Spizzirri tightened.
Incredibly, Sinner hit back to take the third set. But perhaps only because his American opponent lacked the ruthlessness and sporting intelligence to prevent it.
All the underdog had to do at one stage was move Sinner around and make the Italian’s broken body hurt some more. Instead he went for big shots and missed.
You have to salute the favourite’s courage, however. A stubborn streak and some time-saving gamesmanship saw him through.
And at the end of this intense 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 drama, the world number two had somehow survived.
Whether his body will complain later in the tournament about this particular ordeal, only time will tell.
For now, Sinner is simply relieved. He said afterwards: ‘I struggled physically today and got lucky with the heat rule. Then I took my time and started to feel better and better.
‘It had started with the legs, then went into the arms and I was cramping all over. This is something I know I will have to work on with my team.
‘There will be more hot days – not just here but for the rest of the season. I’m here to fight.’
Jannik Sinner will encounter hot days at Wimbledon 2026 too – but perhaps nothing as punishing as this.
Will you be at the All England Club this summer to enjoy the beauitful English summer weather? It won’t be this brutal.
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