January 18, 2025; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Jannik Sinner of Italy serves during his match against Marcos Giron of the United States of America in the third round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open 2025 at Melbourne Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Pictures
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner battled scorching heat and an undisclosed ailment to defeat Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open on Monday.
Sinner, the defending champion, met with the tournament doctor before starting the match and needed a medical timeout in the third set.
“I think we saw that he was struggling physically today,” the Italian said after the match. “I came here as late as possible. I knew today was going to be very, very difficult. You know, playing against a tough opponent, but also playing against myself a little bit.”
The match, played in 90-degree and humid conditions in Melbourne, Australia, also had a 21-minute delay that gave players an indoor break while referees repaired a broken ring that holds the net in place.
Rune, the No. 13 seed, also required his own medical timeout to give a trainer a chance to massage his right knee. The Dane’s rest gave Sinner an additional opportunity to rest in the match, which lasted just over three hours.
Sinner scored 14 aces among her 35 winners, which accompanied 35 unforced errors, and won 83 percent of her first-serve points. Rune finished with 54 unforced errors to 31 winners.
In the quarterfinals, Sinner will face Australian Alex de Minaur, who defeated American Alex Michelsen 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-3. It will be De Minaur’s first Grand Slam quarter-final appearance in his home country, and he became just the third Australian to reach the round in 20 years.
“It means everyone,” De Minaur said. “There is nothing I want to do more than play well here in Australia in front of you. I’m glad I finally made it to the quarterfinals. We are going for bigger and better things.”
Ben Shelton will make his second Australian Open quarter-final appearance after Frenchman Gael Monfils, 38, was forced to withdraw due to a back injury, with Shelton ahead 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3). 7-6 (2), 1-0 after two hours and 56 minutes.
The magical run of another American, 19-year-old qualifier Learner Tien, ended with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 loss to Italian Lorenzo Sonego, who will face Shelton in the quarterfinals . Tien, who struggled physically in the match, defeated world No. 5 Daniil Medvedev of Russia in a five-unit thriller in the second round.
–Media at field level
