Sinner, on the break: "I was alone, there was no treatment"

Iker Jiménez | 24 Jan 2026 | 08.33

Jannik Sinner appeared at a press conference after his victory against Spizzirri. Source: Getty

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Jannik Sinner signed one of the most dramatic victories of his career at the 2026 Australian Open. The Italian suffered from cramps and extreme heat conditions in his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri, who was leading 1-3 in the third set. Just when it seemed like his title defense was on the edge, the extreme heat policy—with the closing of the roof at the Rod Laver Arena—gave him a decisive respite, allowing Sinner to prevail 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and 6-4, advancing to the quarterfinals.

The match, marked by high temperatures near 35 °C and visible physical distress in the Italian, turned around after that key break. Sinner, who had cramps from his legs to his arms, managed to regain his sensations under the roof and keep alive his title defense. His next opponent will be another Italian, Luciano Darderi.

Press conference of Jannik Sinner after reaching the quarterfinals

Cramps and break in the third set

It was hot. I started feeling cramps in the third set, which gradually faded. Now, with a little more experience, I know my body better and try to handle certain situations better. I tried to relax a bit during the time the roof was closed, and that helped. I was alone, there was no treatment. I stretched, lay down for five minutes, trying to relax my muscles and lower my body temperature a bit. That was it.

Tactical adjustments

I tried to move the ball always thinking about the next shot. Normally, sometimes I play more straightforwardly, but today it was more like: I place it there because I want it back on this side. That allowed me to move less and helped me. Also, combining that with observing a bit how my opponent played, I tried to change my game a bit.

Managing emotions

Tennis is a very mental game. I tried to stay as calm as possible. With the experience I have accumulated and what happened in Shanghai, today I tried to manage the situation very differently, and that helped. The key is to stay calm and think positively.

A bad night

We went to Dubai for preseason two times in a row for a reason, also because of the weather conditions. It wasn't as hot this year as last year. Sometimes I feel there isn't a real explanation. For example, last night I didn't sleep as I wanted. The quality of sleep wasn't perfect. Maybe that was it; maybe not.

Recovery for the future

I focus on my part, on what I have to do. I will try to raise my level a bit; if I succeed, perfect. If not, the only solution is to give everything I have. We have a day off tomorrow, so there will be time to recover. We'll see how the match goes; it will be tough, regardless of who is on the other side.

Luciano Darderi, next opponent

He is a player who knows how to do it all. I think he's serving very well. Today I watched a bit of the first set: he plays every point, he's a fighter, he has many qualities, honestly. So it will be a very interesting match.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner, sobre el parón: "Estaba solo, no hubo tratamiento"