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While much of the US faced ice and snow this weekend, tennis stars in Australia battled extreme heat.
Conditions took a noticeable toll on Italy’s Jannik Sinner, who struggled to stretch through apparent cramps and needed the assistance of an air conditioner during the third round of men’s singles at the Australian Open.
Nearly 100-degree temperatures in the third set seemed to trigger Sinner’s cramping problems. Sinner struggled to deliver a high-speed serve in the third set, attempting just 69 mph. Sinner’s opponent, American Eliot Spizzirri, led 2-1 in the set.
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Jannik Sinner of Italy in action against Eliot Spizzirri of the United States during the men’s singles third round at the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (Mike Frey/Imagn Images)
However, the tournament’s two-time defending champion was likely aware that a much-needed respite was on the horizon given the Australian Open’s Heat Stress Scale. The scale takes several factors into account, including temperature, radiant heat (or the strength of the sun), humidity and wind speed.
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When the rules allowed, players were asked to leave the field while the Rod Laver Arena roof was closed. Despite Spizzirri’s visible frustration at the timing of the break, tournament rules required play to be suspended in tied games when heat thresholds are exceeded. After the break, Sinner returned looking revitalized.
Jannik Sinner of Italy speaks with his teammates during the men’s singles third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the United States during day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Sinner won five of the next six games to take the set against Spizzirri. Sinner fell behind early in the fourth set but rallied to secure a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory that highlighted a dramatic contrast of intense light and shade.
“I struggled physically today. I was lucky with the heat rule,” Sinner said, agreeing that the cooler indoor conditions suited him much better than the energy-sapping heat of the first two sets. “I try to stay calm even in a moment like this. If he keeps playing the way he played, maybe I fell a little bit, maybe my tournament was over today. I don’t know.”
Jannik Sinner cools down with an air conditioning pipe in the men’s singles third round during day seven of the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 24, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Spizzirri was magnanimous about it, adding: “It’s the rules of the game and you know you have to live with it.”
Sinner will meet Italian Luciano Darderi in the fourth round on Sunday.
