“Tennis is a very mental game”: Sinner survives massive cramps welcomes the heat rule suspension to overcome Spizzirri
Jannik Sinner defeated Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday to secure his place in the Australian Open round of 16. Despite falling behind 1-3 in the third set while battling full-body cramps, the No 2 seed was saved by a timely heat rule suspension that allowed for a roof closure and a match-altering reset.
Jannik Sinner cramping, Australian Open 2026 | © Dita Alangkara/AP/Sipa)
Jannik Sinner defeated Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 of Saturday night in a match that will be remembered more for the Italian’s physical survival than his baseline dominance. The 24-year-old defending champion, seeded No 2, entered the contest on the back of 26 consecutive sets won, a streak dating back to his Vienna final against Alexander Zverev in October 2025.
However, that run was snapped in a blistering opening set as Sinner’s body began to fail him under the punishing Melbourne sun, leading to one of the most dramatic escapes of his career.
Crisis on Rod Laver Arena and the Heat Rule Intervention
The match reached a critical juncture at the beginning of the third set. With the sets leveled at one-all, Sinner began visibly struggling with severe cramps. Trailing 1-3 and facing a time violation warning as he labored between points, the Italian appeared on the verge of retirement, reminiscent of his physical collapse in Shanghai. His coach, Darren Cahill, was seen urging him to simply stay upright: “We just need to get to the end of this set. Even if you walk around, it’s okay. We get a break.” Cahill’s instruction was a calculated gamble, knowing that under the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale, reaching Grade 4 allows for a 10-minute cooling break between sets.
But in a stunning stroke of fortune, the tournament’s Heat Stress Scale hit Level 5 at that exact moment, triggering an immediate suspension of play for roof closure. This miraculous intervention provided Sinner with an eight-minute reprieve.
“You know many things went in my head, and I started with the leg then it got him into the arm so I was cramping a bit all over,” Sinner explained after the match. “At the end of the day, tennis is a very mental game. I just tried to stay as calm as possible.” Upon the restart in indoor conditions, a rejuvenated Sinner clawed back from 1-3 down to take the third set 6-4, shifting the momentum for good.
Spizzirri’s Brave Stand and Sinner’s Warrior Milestone
While the focus remained on Sinner’s health, the performance of Eliot Spizzirri was nothing short of exceptional. The 24-year-old American, ranked No 85, has enjoyed a fairytale run in Melbourne. A former University of Texas standout, Spizzirri arrived in the third round after grueling victories over Yibing Wu in five sets and a clinical upset of the No 28 seed Joao Fonseca. His flat, aggressive hitting initially overwhelmed a sluggish Sinner, proving he belongs on the sport’s biggest stages.
Ultimately, Sinner’s “warrior” mentality prevailed, securing his 18th consecutive win at tour level and his 17th straight victory at the Australian Open. This win marks his fifth consecutive trip to the Melbourne last 16, a testament to a resilience that has seen him win 30 of his last 31 sets played.
When asked, as a joke, if he would request the roof be closed for his fourth-round match against No 22 seed Luciano Darderi and then next matches, Sinner quipped, “Now I have a good record indoor here so I would be great for me, wouldn’t it ? But in the same time I know if I want to go far in this tournament I also need to play warm and how condition.” For now, the two-time defending champion moves on, his title defense intact after a night of pure survival.
