Cramp-scarred Jannik Sinner at Australian Open: ‘I got lucky’ | ATP Tour

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Australian Open cramp scare: ‘I got lucky’

World No. 2 heavy on Spizzirri, cramp in four sets

January 24, 2026

Jannik Sinner admitted he was “lucky” after being dogged by threats that threatened to derail his four-set victory over American Eliot Spizzirri on Saturday at the Australian Open.

An overheat policy and timely roof closures helped the two-time defending champion to bounce back and advance to the fourth round in Melbourne. Sinner started to jam early at one point, just as play was stopped and the roof closed – a break that proved crucial in getting the momentum back on track.

“I was lucky today,” Sinner said in a press conference after the game. “When they closed the roof, it took a little time. I tried to relax a little bit. It helped… I changed the way I played some points. That helped me today, for sure.”

Soni spent about 10 minutes out of court when the roof was closed. Although he was not allowed to receive treatment, he used the break to stretch and lower his body temperature.

“You can’t get treatment at that time, so I was stretching myself,” said Sinner, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings. “I laid down for five minutes, trying to relax the muscles. It worked really well. I’m trying to lower my body temperature. That’s it. There’s not much you can do. The time went by very quickly, but it helped, for sure.”

It’s not the first time a cramp has tested Sinner’s stamina. He was forced to retire in the third round of his Shanghai title defense against Tallon Griekspoor in October last year, before suffering similar problems a few weeks later in a hard-fought three-set victory over Alexander Zverev in the Vienna final.

The offender believes that there is not always a clear explanation when these moments arise.

“I feel like sometimes there are no real explanations,” Sinner said. “For example, last night I didn’t sleep as much as I wanted. The quality of sleep was not perfect… Maybe it was; maybe it wasn’t. Regardless, I try to be in the best shape every day. [with] recovery, everything is going well. It is possible.

“I know my body better now. I hope it will go slowly, as it was. Today, the rule helped me. I also have 10 minutes after the third set. So I tried to have a good balance.”

The win was reminiscent of Sinner’s fourth-round victory over Holger Rune at Melbourne Park last year, when he had to overcome physical discomfort en route to the title.

Asked about his “luck” to navigate these conditions, Sinner – who aims to become just the second man in the Open Era after Novak Djokovic to win three consecutive Australian Open titles – instead pointed to preparation and mentality.

“I’m someone who tries to put tennis first,” said Sinner. “I know that I have been doing that for years, in my mind I know how much I work, I feel that I am well prepared even if other problems happen in court.

“Yes, there will be days when you can’t find a way. It’s not that everything goes your way. But with a good mind, surely good things can happen. If you think in the wrong way on the court, probably a lot of bad things can happen to you. I try to stay calm even in times like this.”

After navigating a tricky test, Sinner booked a place in the fourth round for the fifth year in a row. He will next face fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.