Sinner made a dramatic escape in the 3rd round of the 2026 Australian Open.

The Australian Open organizers inadvertently saved Jannik Sinner from an imminent defeat.

At the 2026 Australian Open, Jannik Sinner experienced a thrilling and somewhat fortunate match, overcoming American player Eliot Spizzirri 4-6; 6-3; 6-4; 6-4 to advance to the fourth round.

Sinner started off below expectations by losing the first set 4-6. Although he managed to regain control in the second set with a 6-3 win, he faced difficulties again in the third set. When trailing 1-3, Sinner showed clear signs of physical fatigue, suffering cramps in both his arms and legs, which significantly affected his movement and ball control.

The turning point came when the referee announced a roughly 10-minute suspension of play due to extreme heat policies set by the organizers. Players left the court, and the roof at Rod Laver Arena was closed to ensure suitable playing conditions, coinciding perfectly with Sinner’s critical moment. This unexpected break became a "lifeline" for the 24-year-old, giving him extra time to recover physically, stabilize his breathing, and adjust his strategy.

"At that time, I was really struggling physically. I was lucky because of the weather rule; closing the roof gave me time to adapt. I felt better as the match went on.", Sinner shared after the match. The world number two revealed that cramps first appeared in his legs and then spread to his arms, causing almost full-body spasms.

When the match resumed, Sinner immediately broke his opponent’s serve to even the third set and gradually regained control. The champion’s composure helped him maintain stability at crucial moments to close out the match in four sets, continuing his quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title.

In the fourth round, Sinner will face fellow Italian Luciano Darderi. The 22nd seed reached the Grand Slam round of 16 for the first time after defeating the 15th seed Karen Khachanov.