Home / Sports / Sinner Reigns, Keys Dethroned as Heat Rises in Melbourne
Sinner Reigns, Keys Dethroned as Heat Rises in Melbourne
26 Jan
Summary
- Jannik Sinner advances to quarter-finals with dominant win.
- Madison Keys' title defense ends amid extreme heat warnings.
- Novak Djokovic progresses to the next round without playing.
Jannik Sinner delivered a powerful performance to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, defeating his compatriot Luciano Darderi in straight sets. The second seed, who served 19 aces, expressed satisfaction with his comeback to the new season.
In contrast, Madison Keys' title defense concluded as she was defeated by fellow American Jessica Pegula. The match saw Keys make numerous unforced errors, contributing to her exit. Pegula, now set to face Amanda Anisimova, spoke about a pre-match bet involving apple pie.
Extreme heat is a major concern, with temperatures forecast to reach 45C. Matches on Monday saw cooling measures implemented, and play on Tuesday is expected to move under roofs where available. Novak Djokovic advanced automatically to the quarter-finals after his scheduled opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew due to injury.
Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek continued her dominant run, progressing with a swift victory. Elena Rybakina also advanced, setting up a quarter-final clash with Swiatek. Lorenzo Musetti overcame tough conditions to defeat Taylor Fritz and will face Djokovic next.
