Australian Open: Sinner cruises past Darderi to reach quarter-finals in Melbourne

Defending champion Jannik Sinner powered into the quarter-finals of the 2026 Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, keeping his bid for a third consecutive title in Melbourne firmly on track.

Sinner, who had battled back from the brink of a cramp-induced breakdown in the previous round against American Eliot Spizzirri, enjoyed a far more routine outing as he brushed aside the 22nd seed 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).

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The Italian admitted he was “lucky” to still be competing at Melbourne Park after enduring searing 40°C heat and cramps during his gruelling third-round encounter. Only the intervention of the roof and his ability to push through physically had spared him a shock exit at the hands of world number 85 Spizzirri.

Against an injury-hampered Darderi, however, the second seed looked noticeably fresher, racing through the opening two sets and dropping just four games in total. Sinner needed only 27 minutes to seal the first set, storming into a 5-0 lead before Darderi finally got on the scoreboard.

There were fleeting signs of fatigue late in the third set as Darderi raised his level and forced a tie-break, but the four-time Grand Slam champion found another gear when it mattered most to close out the match in straight sets. The victory marked Sinner’s 18th consecutive win at Melbourne Park.

“It was very, very difficult. We are good friends off the court,” Sinner said afterwards. “In the third set, I had a couple of break chances; I couldn’t use them, and then I got very, very tight. So I’m happy that I closed it in three sets.”

Darderi, who appeared troubled by a thigh injury, grew increasingly frustrated as the match wore on, at one point swatting a ball away in irritation as Sinner’s dominance became clear.

Sinner will now face American eighth seed Ben Shelton in the last eight as he continues his pursuit of history. He is aiming to become just the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to win three successive Australian Open titles.