Jannik Sinner has admitted to being ‘lucky’ during his third round win at the Australian Open against Eliot Spizzirri.
The Italian had his first big test of this year’s Australian Open as he defeated the talented American 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
After the win Sinner gave credit to his opponent and outlined the difficulties he had with the 24 year-old’s game, “I felt like he was moving very well, especially with the backhand not missing barely any shots. Felt like he had a great, you know, balance of how much he should go for,” Sinner detailed in his press conference.
“Started to move around the ball really well. After, I changed a bit, you know, in the rhythm and also the pace a little bit, which helped me to get into points in different ways. But yeah, great, great player.
“Have to give him a lot of credit, you know, coming here first time playing in Australia, playing this level. It’s great. Seems like a good guy. I wish him obviously only the best.”
However, the scoreline only tells half of the story of the match because the American was actually a break up in the third set with Sinner full body cramping in the sizzling Australian heat.
The Italian then received a welcomed eight minute break as they closed the roof which then saw the defending champion regroup to win the match in four sets.
After the match Sinner admitted he got ‘lucky’ and said that the eight minute break helped him to loosen up, “Yeah, I mean, it was hot today. Started to cramp a little bit in the third set, which then after by time it went slowly away,” Sinner acknowledged.
“I know my body slightly better now with a bit of experience also, you know, trying to handle certain situations a bit better. And yeah, got lucky today. At the point when they closed the roof, it takes a little bit time. Tried to loosen up a little bit. It helped. Changed a bit also the way of how to play certain points. That helped me today, for sure.”
This is the second year in a row that Sinner has struggled with the Australian heat with the Italian also struggling in his match against Holger Rune last year.
However, Sinner has dismissed concerns over his conditioning and has insisted he is doing everything possible to work on coping with hot conditions, “I mean, we now twice in a row that we go to Dubai for a reason and also for the weather conditions. This year was not as warm as it was last year. I feel like sometimes there are no real explanations,” Sinner explained.
“For example, this night I didn’t slept the way I wanted to. The quality of sleep was not perfect. Maybe it was this; maybe not. Regardless on that, I try to be in the best possible shape every day. Recovery, everything going in the right direction. It can happen.
“I know my body a little bit better now. I hope that it goes slowly away, which that was the case. Today with the rule helped me. I had also the 10 minutes after the third set. Yeah, so I tried to having a good balance and having a right, you know, way to play against him helped me today, for sure.
“This I don’t know. I’m someone who tries to put tennis in the highest priority. I know that I’m doing that since years now. In the back of my mind I know how much I work. I feel well-prepared even if some problems could happen potentially on the court.
“Of course, there are going to be days where you don’t find a way. It’s not that everything is going your way. But with a positive mindset, for sure more positive things can happen. If you are in a court thinking in a negative way, most likely more negative things can come towards you.
“I try to stay calm even in a moment like this. If he keeps playing the way he was playing, maybe I was dropping a little bit, maybe my tournament was over today. I don’t know. Honestly, I think that’s it.”
Sinner will hope his conditioning improves as the tournament goes on as he bids for a third consecutive title in Melbourne.
Next up for Sinner will be compatriot Luciano Darderi in the last 16 on Monday.
