Jannik Sinner is feeling the heat in Melbourne. The defending champion is currently taking on America’s Eliot Spizzirri in the third round of the 2026 AO, and guess what? After securing the first set 6-4, Sinner made a strong comeback in the second (6-3). But now, the American has yet again taken a lead in the third set (3-1). Amid all these, the Italian was spotted struggling a bit with harsh weather conditions. Now, considering the excessive rise in temperature, the officials have asked for a brief pause in this epic duel.

The Australian Open is once again fighting a familiar enemy – extreme heat. With Melbourne temperatures soaring into dangerous territory, tournament organizers recently announced emergency scheduling changes, pushing Saturday’s day session to an earlier 10:30 am start and limiting outdoor matches to ensure player safety. But even with these precautions, the brutal conditions made their presence felt, nowhere more dramatically than in Jannik Sinner’s tense battle with Elliot Spizzirri.

As the match progressed, the physical toll on Sinner became increasingly evident. Battling oppressive temperatures, the world number two began showing signs of cramping across multiple parts of his body. At a change of ends, he even called for a physio as discomfort in his hand, hip, and leg became visible. His coach, Darren Cahill, was seen asking him to at least finish the third set, even if he had to walk around. To this, Sinner replied, “I don’t know what to do.”

Seeing Jannik Sinner cramping in his hand and hip/leg, commentator Todd Woodbridge said, “This is quite troubling. If you start to go in one area, you start to stretch it out, and then another area starts to go.”

A few minutes later, the match got suspended due to the heat rule reaching level 5. The players had to wait for the roof to go on.

The Sinner-Spizzirri match occurred on a day when Melbourne temperatures soared between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius. The Heat Stress Scale reached levels requiring both play interruption and roof closure to protect against heat-related danger. The court interruption lasted about 10 minutes, but it lowered the court temperature and gave players time to recover from the intense heat before they could continue the match. But other than these interruptions, there was another incident that took place in this match. What was it?

Jannik Sinner’s American opponent showcases a classy gesture in their third-round clash

Before even stepping onto the court against Jannik Sinner, Eliot Spizziri knew he was walking into the biggest test of his career. Facing the two-time defending AO champion in their first-ever H2H meeting, the 24-year-old American embraced the moment with humility and excitement.

“It would be an awesome experience. Going against one of the best players in the world and one of the toughest challengers in our sport. I would be grateful to be out there and do the best I can.”

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So far, the American has been really impressive in this match. His fearless shot-making and remarkable composure against the world number two have really been quite impressive. But while the tennis itself has been gripping, it was an off-ball moment that truly defined Spizzirri’s character. 

During a tense second-set exchange, Jannik Sinner was handed a time violation by chair umpire Fergus Murphy after an electric rally that left the crowd roaring. The Italian protested, arguing that the lingering noise from spectators made it impossibe for him to serve. But soon after hearing Sinner’s complaints, boos rang out around the stadium.

In a moment that won over fans and pundits alike, Spizzirri stepped in. Not to benefit himself, but to defend his opponent. He approached the chair umpire and admitted he hadn’t even been ready to receive the serve because of the crowd, urging the official to rescind the penalty. This little gesture drew widespread praise across the tennis world.

Now, as the match continues to swing with momentum and drama, one thing is already clear: Elito Spizziri has not only challenged one of the best players in the world, he has also won admiration for his integrity. Share your thoughts about the American’s performance in this epic duel.