Jannik Sinner finishes off Holger Rune in Melbourne after lengthy medical timeout and net malfunction delays

Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has returned to the quarterfinals, navigating an illness and multiple delays during a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 13 seed Holger Rune.

Beyond highlight reel moments that included the Italian claiming a 37-shot rally in an exchange sure to contend for point of the tournament, Sinner’s latest victory Monday will be remembered for the circumstances that unfolded.

“Today was a very strange morning. I didn’t even warm up today, trying to go on court as fit as I could. I knew in my mind right before the match that I would struggle today,” Sinner told Jim Courier in his post-match interview.

Sinner has been pushed to four sets in two of his four wins thus far in Melbourne.

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Up 3-2 in the third set, Sinner was visited by the doctor and physio. After his pulse was taken, Sinner exited for an off-court medical timeout. Rune waited for more than 11 minutes until beginning his next service game.

With Sinner serving to take a two-sets-to-one lead, Rune received treatment on his right knee—not on a changeover—for three minutes. The top seed then served it out at love.

In set four, following the Dane’s opening hold, Sinner’s fault into the net inadvertently led to another break in play. The net hook dislodged from the screw inside a drilled hole on Rod Laver Arena, eventually causing a stoppage of nearly 20 minutes.

Sinner is a combined 11-0 against his potential next opponents De Minaur and Michelsen.

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Once the contest resumed, Sinner was all business in separating himself from his opponent. The 22-year-old finished with an even split of 35 winners and unforced errors, while firing 14 aces.

“I served very well. Quality shots then gave me confidence to fight on,” Sinner said. “The time off the court, me and the doctor talked a little bit. It helped me today and also shows this tournament has great organization. They really take care of the players.”

Sinner has now won his past 18 matches at hard-court majors. For a semifinal spot, he faces the winner of Monday’s night-session showdown between eighth seed Alex de Minaur and American Alex Michelsen.