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Jannik Sinner battled cramps and overcame unexpected physical challenges to beat American Eliot Spizzirri in his third-round clash at the Australian Open 2026 on Saturday. Spizzirri played the match of his life to produce a mighty scare for the defending champion, however, Sinner came from a set down to secure a hard-fought 4-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4 victory.
A struggling Sinner dropped the first set against Spizzirri, who made a strong start in the match, breaking the defending champion thrice. The American underdog clinched the first set 6-4, before Sinner bounced back to take the next set 6-3 and draw the match level. The sweltering heat and the soaring temperature got the better of Sinner in the third set as the Italian was seen battling cramps on the court.
Sinner battled severe cramps and needed medical attention as he struggled to get accustomed to the brutal heat, with the temperature reaching 40C in Melbourne during the match. The Italian was seen draping himself in ice towels and constantly holding his leg and knees as he struggled to move on the court.
Spizzirri had taken a 3-1 lead in the third set when the extreme heat rule was invoked, benefiting Sinner. As the Italian looked battered amid the intense heat at the Rod Laver Arena, the heat stress scale hit five at the Australian Open, meaning the play had to be suspended briefly. As per the rules, the play has to be stopped if the heat scale hits five during the tournament.
The break saw Sinner limp off the court to get treatment. It worked in his favour as the Italian returned energised, playing with the roof closed at the Rod Laver Arena to reduce the temperature. Sinner eventually found his rhythm to close the third set 6-4, before winning the final set by the same margin to wrap up a labouring win in a match that lasted over three hours.
Sinner, a two-time defending champion who is looking to win his third straight Australian Open title, admitted he got lucky against American underdog Spizzirri in his third-round clash at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday. The world no.2 admitted the heat rule worked in his favour and allowed him to stage a fightback.
"I struggled physically a bit today as you saw. I got lucky with the heat rule, they closed the roof," said Sinner.
"As the time passed, I felt better and better, and very happy about this performance. Looking back, in every big tournament I've had some really tough matches. So hopefully this can give me some positives for the next round," he added.
The Italian world no.2 will take on fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in the Last 16 of the Australian Open 2026 on Sunday.
