World No. 10 Jannik Sinner had to dig deep to overcome a worrying medical episode during his fourth round clash against Denmark’s Holger Rune at the Australian Open on Monday. The 21-year-old Italian appeared to be struggling with dizziness and fatigue early in the second set, calling the trainer and doctor to the court.
But after taking a medical timeout and receiving treatment, Sinner found a second wind. He rallied to close out a hard-fought 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory over the 19-year-old Rune to reach the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the first time in his young career.
“I was feeling very tired and dizzy on the court, especially in the second set,” Sinner told reporters after the match. “But I tried to stay calm and focus on my game. It means a lot to me to make the quarterfinals here.”
De Minaur Awaits in Quarterfinals
Awaiting Sinner in the last eight will be Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur, who also advanced in impressive fashion on Monday. The 23-year-old Aussie dispatched unseeded American Alex Michelsen 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to reach his first quarterfinal at his home Grand Slam.
“It’s a whole new day, a whole new match and anything can happen. Sport is unpredictable.”
– Alex de Minaur on facing Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals
De Minaur said he is relishing his underdog status against the higher-ranked Sinner and believes the pressure will be on the young Italian as the favorite.
“I’m just happy to be in the quarterfinals,” De Minaur said. “You both start at 0-0, so that’s how I am approaching it. I’m not paying attention to form lines or rankings.”
Blockbuster Quarterfinal Matchups
The Sinner-De Minaur showdown is one of several mouthwatering quarterfinal clashes set for the next two days at the Australian Open. Other key matchups include:
- Novak Djokovic vs. Andrey Rublev – Djokovic aims for 10th Australian Open title
- Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Jiri Lehecka – Tsitsipas targets maiden Slam against surprise quarterfinalist Lehecka
- Karen Khachanov vs. Sebastian Korda – Americans Korda continues breakout run
On the women’s side, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek remains the favorite after defeating Elena Rybakina in a thrilling three-set battle. She next faces Jessica Pegula, while Victoria Azarenka takes on Karolina Pliskova and Magda Linette faces Aryna Sabalenka in the other women’s quarterfinals.
Tournament Heats Up in Second Week
With the first week of the Australian Open now complete, anticipation is building for what promises to be a memorable finish at Melbourne Park. The quarterfinals get underway on Tuesday, with both the men’s and women’s titles still very much up for grabs.
For Sinner, the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since Matteo Berrettini in 2022, a maiden Grand Slam semifinal is now within reach. But he will have to overcome a raucous pro-De Minaur crowd and any lingering effects from Monday’s medical scare to get there.
“The job isn’t done yet. I want to try to go further and see how far I can push my limits.”
– Jannik Sinner on his ambitions after reaching the quarterfinals
One thing is certain – with eight of the world’s best players left vying for the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, the 2025 Australian Open is poised for a thrilling climax. Stay tuned to see who emerges victorious and captures their piece of tennis history Down Under.
