{"id":391333,"date":"2026-01-26T14:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T14:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/391333\/"},"modified":"2026-01-26T14:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T14:03:08","slug":"jannik-sinner-snuffs-out-late-luciano-darderi-push-to-reach-australian-open-qfs-atp-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/391333\/","title":{"rendered":"Jannik Sinner snuffs out late Luciano Darderi push to reach Australian Open QFs | ATP Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATP Tour
\n Sinner snuffs out late Darderi push to reach Australian Open QFs<\/p>\n

Two-time defending champion will face Shelton in last eight<\/p>\n

January 26, 2026<\/p>\n

\"Jannik<\/p>\n

Phil Walter\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Jannik Sinner has won all 18 tour-level matches he has played against Italians.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n

Jannik Sinner<\/a> negotiated a brief moment of late uncertainty on Monday at the Australian Open<\/a>, but ultimately asserted his authority to defeat fellow Italian Luciano Darderi<\/a> 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) and move into the quarter-finals in Melbourne.<\/p>\n

The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings struck with authority, pairing relentless precision with a clinical edge that largely kept doubt and drama at bay. Having struggled with cramping against Eliot Spizzirri<\/a> in the previous round \u2014 a match in which he later admitted he \u201cgot lucky\u201d with a timely roof closure<\/a> \u2014 Sinner escaped a nervy finish against Darderi, as both his momentum and physical condition briefly threatened to fade.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very difficult. We are good friends off the court, that\u2019s also a small difficulty to put away,\u201d Sinner said of Darderi. \u201cIn the third set I had a couple of break chances, [but] I couldn’t use them\u2026 Then I got very tight, so I\u2019m very happy that I closed it in three sets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simply too good \ud83d\udd25@janniksin<\/a> defeats compatriot Darderi to reach the quarter-finals for the fourth time.@AustralianOpen<\/a> | #AO26<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/LVdNyAZeO4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

In his maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Darderi, Sinner dictated from the baseline with clean timing and sharp serving. Darderi briefly threatened late in the third set when he produced a surge of aggressive baseline play to earn four break points at 4-4 and led 2\/0 in the tie-break. It loomed as a potential turning point, but Sinner shut the door emphatically, winning seven straight points to close out the victory.<\/p>\n

Next up, Sinner will face Ben Shelton<\/a> as he continues his bid to join Novak Djokovic<\/a> as the only men to lift three consecutive Australian Open<\/a> titles. The pair now sit just one win apiece away from a potential blockbuster semi-final clash.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cATP\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

With his two-hour, nine-minute victory over Darderi, Sinner advanced to his fourth Australian Open<\/a> quarter-final, drawing level with Grigor Dimitrov<\/a>, Kei Nishikori<\/a> and Stefanos Tsitsipas<\/a> for the fourth-most appearances at that stage among active players.<\/p>\n

Sinner\u2019s blend of power and efficiency proved decisive in his straight-sets victory, allowing him to close out the match without inviting further questions around his fitness. He finished with 46 winners, including 19 aces, and remained perfect against his countrymen, extending to an 18-0 tour-level record against fellow Italians.<\/p>\n

“We put a lot of work in, especially with the serve,\u201d Sinner added. \u201cWe changed the motion a bit and I feel for sure a little bit more confident. There is still room to improve, which is normal, but I\u2019m very happy with how I have come back in the new season. At the end of last season, I served really well, [and] it\u2019s much more stable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n