Jannik Sinner advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, marking a significant moment in the tournament, while the defending women’s champion, Madison Keys, was eliminated by Jessica Pegula. Sinner’s victory came after Lorenzo Musetti secured his spot in the last eight, defeating an injured Taylor Fritz.
After facing challenges with cramps in the previous round, Sinner swiftly secured a win against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi with a score of 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2). The match took place in the shade at Margaret Court Arena, providing relief from the heat that hit 33 degrees Celsius (94F) earlier in the day. Sinner expressed his satisfaction with his physical condition, stating he felt “quite good.”
In the next round, Sinner will meet American eighth seed Ben Shelton, who recently defeated 12th seed Casper Ruud. This matchup will be a reunion of sorts, as Shelton lost to Sinner in last year’s semifinals.
Meanwhile, Keys’ title defense ended with a loss to Pegula, who claimed victory with a score of 6-3, 6-4. The ninth seed acknowledged a pre-match bet with Pegula, promising to honor it by eating a cheese-smothered apple pie. Pegula’s win allows her to progress to her fourth quarterfinal at Melbourne Park, where she will face Amanda Anisimova, another American player who triumphed over China’s Wang Xinyu.
Iga Swiatek continued her strong performance in the tournament, taking out the last Australian competitor, Maddison Inglis, with a decisive 6-0, 6-3 victory. She will face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina next, after the Kazakh player showcased her prowess by defeating Elise Mertens.
Musetti also made headlines by reaching his first Australian Open quarterfinal after overcoming Fritz with a score of 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Reflecting on his victory, Musetti noted his determination to approach the match with a different mentality after losing to Fritz in November’s ATP Finals. His reward is a matchup against the 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, who received a walkover in the previous round when his opponent withdrew due to injury.
Fritz, on the other hand, expressed frustration over his exit, citing aggravated knee and abdominal issues from earlier matches. He admitted to feeling discomfort throughout his match.
With the tournament heating up, players are bracing for an even more challenging day ahead. The forecast for the following day predicts temperatures reaching 45 degrees Celsius (113F), prompting concerns about possible match delays and closed stadium roofs. The first quarterfinal will feature two-times champion Aryna Sabalenka against the promising 18-year-old Iva Jovic, while the men’s top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, is set to compete against Australia’s last hope, Alex de Minaur, in the late match.