By Chalien Dantes

Jannik Sinner looked revitalised as he stormed into the Australian Open quarter-finals, defeating fellow Italian Luciano Darderi.

The defending champion had a narrow escape in the previous round, surviving 40 °C heat and crippling cramps against American world number 85 Eliot Spizzirri. Only a timely roof closure and a brief break kept Sinner in the tournament after what could have been a shocking exit.

Against an injury-weakened Darderi, Sinner appeared fresher and more in control. He raced through the first two sets, dropping just four games.

The third set tested him again, as Darderi rallied to push it into a tie break. But Sinner lifted his game when it mattered, sealing a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) victory and extending his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 18 matches.