Jannik Sinner hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
MELBOURNE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- World number two Jannik Sinner pumped his fist in steely celebration on Monday as he marched towards a three-peat of Australian Open titles after a straight-sets win over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in the fourth round.
The four-time grand slam champion recorded a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) victory, needing just over two hours to send his opponent packing.
"We are good friends off the court. I'm very happy I closed it in three sets," said Sinner, who fired down 19 aces.
It was a far less dramatic match for Sinner than his four-set third round win over Eliot Spizzirri, where he had struggled with full body cramps amid intense heat.
Sinner, wearing a white cap, enjoyed the mild night conditions at Margaret Court Arena as he breezed through the opening two sets.
22nd seed Darderi seemed completely overawed, having never previously reached the fourth round of a grand slam before.
Darderi looked set to crash out tamely as he appeared hobbled while he animatedly put the ball in his mouth to the amusement of fans.
But Darderi showed fight in a see-saw third set until Sinner increased his level in the tiebreak.
Sinner now faces a quarterfinal tie against either eighth seed Ben Shelton or three-time grand slam finalist Casper Ruud. ■
Luciano Darderi hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner serves during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner reacts during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Luciano Darderi reacts during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Luciano Darderi hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Luciano Darderi hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner reacts during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Luciano Darderi reacts during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
Jannik Sinner hits a return during the men's singles 4th round match between Luciano Darderi of Italy and Jannik Sinner of Italy at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
