Jannik Sinner came ever so close to exiting the Australian Open at the third-round stage.
Sinner, the two-time defending champion in Melbourne, suffered full-body cramps during his contest against Eliot Spizzirri as temperatures on Rod Laver Arena continued to soar.
With Sinner trailing 1-3 at one set all, the heat rule came into effect, allowing Sinner to rest and recuperate before winning the match in four sets.
Sinner, who admitted he got ‘lucky’ against Spizzirri, defeated Luciano Darderi two days later, booking his place in the quarter-finals.
Ahead of his contest against Ben Shelton, Sinner’s current physical condition has been revealed.
Who would win this legendary showdown?
Jannik Sinner is said to be ‘physically growing’ ahead of his quarter-final clash against Ben Shelton
Italian journalist Carlo Galati has revealed that Jannik Sinner has been training indoors at the Australian National Tennis Centre in Melbourne Park ahead of his match against Ben Shelton.
The Italian is said to be ‘physically growing’ ahead of the match, allaying any fears regarding the Italian’s physical fitness.
Sinner has also called upon the help of a left-handed hitting partner from the academy – a clear tactical shift ahead of his contest against Shelton, who is left-handed.
Galati also reports that Sinner was focusing on the backhand cross-court shot during his practise.
Sinner is set to play Shelton on Wednesday, and he will compete for the chance to face Novak Djokovic or Lorenzo Musetti in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Will Sinner suffer physical issues against Ben Shelton?
Sinner’s physical issues in tough weather conditions are becoming more and more of a concern. The Italian has a history of suffering cramping during matches, as demonstrated by his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters last October.
Luckily for the Italian, he will play during the night session against Shelton, meaning temperatures in Melbourne will be on the lower side.
The schedule in Australia has proven to be kind to Jannik Sinner, as Tim Henman expressed after the Italian was given a favourable time slot for his match against Darderi.
Who do you think will retire with more Grand Slam titles?
If Sinner is to win his third title in Melbourne, he will most certainly need to avoid any more physical issues, especially if he plays Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
