Jannik Sinner explains footage of him visibly shaking during 12-minute medical timeout at Australian Open
Jannik Sinner staged a remarkable physical comeback to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals. The Italian had to battle extreme humid conditions in his fourth round clash that left him shaking on his bench amid a 12-minute medical timeout. Sinner was affected by the Australian heat during his fourth round clash Sinner defeated Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in what would seem like a relatively straight-forward match for the number one seed. Although the current Australian Open champion struggled in Melbourne’s 32 degree heat and was seen visibly shaking during changeovers as he wrapped ice towels around his neck. At one point, doctors would take his pulse during a medical timeout that would last 12 minutes, an unusually long period of time as it was during a set, but necessary given the state the Italian was in. Following his timeout, Sinner still seemed physically drained, however Rune’s 16 unforced errors enabled the world No.1 to clinch the third set. A thunderous serve from the two-time Grand Slam champion in the fourth set saw him break a metal ring at the bottom of the net, which would lead to a 21-minute delay in which both players rushed inside to take respite from the heat. After the extended break, the Italian would go on and claim the fourth and thus securing victory against Rune, who himself struggled with the conditions and needed a medical timeout. Sinner revealed after his match he did not even warm-up and skipped practice given his physical struggles. He said: “This morning was a very strange morning, because I didn’t even warm up today. “I knew in my mind already before the match that I would struggle today.” He will now be hoping he is scheduled on the night-session next as he returns to the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the third time in his career. Sinner could be seen visibly shaking during his medical timeout The Italian world number one survived a scare to earn his place in the quarter-finals For all of the Italian’s struggles, the number one seed still displayed incredible quality throughout the match. Sinner won 83 per cent of first-serve points while Rune managed just 66 per cent, while the 23-year-old also fired in 35 winners, with his Danish opponent hitting 51 unforced errors. Speaking of his impressive performance, Sinner remarked: “I have to say that game-wise I played well today. I served very well. Quality shots which then gave me the confidence to fight on.” Sinner’s win now makes it 18 consecutive Grand Slam hard court wins as the Italian swept up both the US Open and Australian Open last year and is now in the last eight this year down under. The 23-year-old also broke a record for the highest win percentage at ATP level while ranked as the world No.1 at 93.6 per cent, beating Bjorn Borg’s previous 91.9 per cent record. For a semi-final spot, the Italian will face the winner of Monday’s night session between Alex de Minaur and American Alex Michelsen.
Jannik Sinner staged a remarkable physical comeback to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.
The Italian had to battle extreme humid conditions in his fourth round clash that left him shaking on his bench amid a 12-minute medical timeout.
Sinner defeated Holger Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in what would seem like a relatively straight-forward match for the number one seed.
Although the current Australian Open champion struggled in Melbourne’s 32 degree heat and was seen visibly shaking during changeovers as he wrapped ice towels around his neck.
At one point, doctors would take his pulse during a medical timeout that would last 12 minutes, an unusually long period of time as it was during a set, but necessary given the state the Italian was in.
Following his timeout, Sinner still seemed physically drained, however Rune’s 16 unforced errors enabled the world No.1 to clinch the third set.
A thunderous serve from the two-time Grand Slam champion in the fourth set saw him break a metal ring at the bottom of the net, which would lead to a 21-minute delay in which both players rushed inside to take respite from the heat.
After the extended break, the Italian would go on and claim the fourth and thus securing victory against Rune, who himself struggled with the conditions and needed a medical timeout.
Sinner revealed after his match he did not even warm-up and skipped practice given his physical struggles.
He said: “This morning was a very strange morning, because I didn’t even warm up today.
“I knew in my mind already before the match that I would struggle today.”
He will now be hoping he is scheduled on the night-session next as he returns to the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the third time in his career.
For all of the Italian’s struggles, the number one seed still displayed incredible quality throughout the match.
Sinner won 83 per cent of first-serve points while Rune managed just 66 per cent, while the 23-year-old also fired in 35 winners, with his Danish opponent hitting 51 unforced errors.
Speaking of his impressive performance, Sinner remarked: “I have to say that game-wise I played well today. I served very well. Quality shots which then gave me the confidence to fight on.”
Sinner’s win now makes it 18 consecutive Grand Slam hard court wins as the Italian swept up both the US Open and Australian Open last year and is now in the last eight this year down under.
The 23-year-old also broke a record for the highest win percentage at ATP level while ranked as the world No.1 at 93.6 per cent, beating Bjorn Borg’s previous 91.9 per cent record.
For a semi-final spot, the Italian will face the winner of Monday’s night session between Alex de Minaur and American Alex Michelsen.
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