Jannik Sinner resumes his Australian Open title defence with a fourth-round encounter against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, following what the champion himself described as a "lucky" escape in the previous round.
Sinner's Scare and Recovery
The second seed admitted fortune played a part in his third-round victory over Eliot Spizzirri, where he was visibly cramping and in significant distress. The situation prompted the intervention of the tournament's heat stress protocol, which mandated the closure of the roof on the court. This change in conditions allowed the 24-year-old to regroup and ultimately secure his passage to the next stage.
Italian Derby on the Cards
This match marks the first professional meeting between Sinner and the 23-year-old Darderi, although the pair are familiar with each other's games having trained together during the off-season. Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion, carries a formidable record against his compatriots, boasting an impressive streak of seventeen consecutive victories against Italian opponents.
Darderi, seeded 22nd, is enjoying a career-best run at a major tournament, reaching the fourth round for the first time after a four-set triumph over Karen Khachanov. Speaking ahead of the clash, Darderi acknowledged the challenge, stating: "Is going to feel really, really good. An amazing experience, good match. I will try to do my best."
Schedule and Court Details
The highly anticipated fourth-round contest is scheduled as the fourth match on Margaret Court Arena. It has a not before time of 7:00 AM GMT (UK time). The match will follow the women's singles encounter between Elena Rybakina and Elise Mertens, with Rybakina having taken the first set 6-1.
Wider Australian Open Landscape
Elsewhere in the tournament, another Italian player, Lorenzo Musetti, has already secured his quarter-final berth after defeating Taylor Fritz. He will now face the formidable Novak Djokovic. In the women's draw, Jessica Pegula ended the title defence of Madison Keys, setting up an all-American showdown with Amanda Anisimova in the next round.
As the action unfolds in Melbourne, all eyes will be on whether Sinner can extend his dominant run against fellow Italians and continue his pursuit of back-to-back Australian Open crowns, or if Darderi can cause a major upset in his breakthrough Grand Slam performance.
