Jannik Sinner cruised into the Australian Open quarterfinals with a composed straight-sets win over Luciano Darderi, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2). However, the all-Italian clash took an unexpected turn as Darderi unraveled under pressure and even received a code violation during the match.

Luciano Darderi struggled from the opening set against Jannik Sinner. He lost the first set 6-1 and faced a break point in the second. During that moment, he misjudged a return and watched the ball sail long.

Frustration quickly followed. Darderi hurled his racket to the ground in anger. He paused briefly to compose himself and returned to serve, but the momentum had already shifted.

Soon after, Sinner took full advantage. Darderi sent a return wide and out after a short rally. The error added to his mounting frustration on the court.

Moments later, Darderi pulled a spare ball from his pocket and launched it out of the stadium. The outburst drew attention from officials and the crowd. While he avoided a violation for racket abuse, he was penalized for striking the ball away in anger.

The frustration did not end there. In the following set, Darderi was seen shouting toward his player’s box. His emotions continued to spill over during points and between games.

One incident stunned spectators as Darderi appeared to nearly bite the ball. Commentating on TNT Sports, Jo Durie said, “And he’s absolutely seething. What can you do? Where can you go?”

The on-court breakdown followed events from just days earlier. Darderi had shocked viewers during a television interview. The 23-year-old was suddenly hit by a severe cramp while speaking live after his win against Karen Khachanov.

He was being interviewed by host Chris Stubbs and former American player Nicholas Monroe. Darderi grabbed his hamstring on camera. The conversation stopped as he grimaced and clutched his leg in visible pain.

Back on court, the spotlight was firmly on Jannik Sinner. It marked his fourth quarterfinal appearance at the tournament. The two-time champion remains a heavy favorite to win a third straight title.

Sinner had already endured a demanding path. He battled past Eliot Spizzirri in the third round. He also had to deal with intense Melbourne heat earlier in the week.

Under cooler evening conditions on Margaret Court Arena, Sinner looked sharp again. His serve stood out throughout the match. He fired 19 aces and won 81% of points on his first serve.

Both players struggled on the second serve. Darderi managed just 40% on his second delivery. He failed to convert all six break points, while Sinner took four of eight chances.

Sinner finished with 46 winners to Darderi’s 33. He also made 16 fewer unforced errors. The numbers told the story. Facing Sinner is rarely easy, and this was not the first time an opponent unraveled under the pressure.

Alexander Zverev suffers racquet-smashing meltdown in Australian Open final

Last year’s Australian Open final saw Alexander Zverev struggle to control his emotions. Tension built throughout the match. His biggest meltdown came after losing the second set.

The then world No. 2 suffered bad luck in a tight tiebreak. At 4-4, Zverev stood behind the baseline during a rally. Jannik Sinner hit a forehand that clipped the net and dropped over.

Sinner went on to win the tiebreak 7-4. Zverev showed his frustration as he walked to his chair. He slammed his racquet into another racquet resting on his bag.

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He then sat down and threw a racquet that still had the tag on it. That racquet was struck two more times. Zverev could not control his anger and later lost the final in straight sets.

Such reactions against Sinner have not been isolated incidents. In the 2022 Miami Open, Nick Kyrgios also lost his temper while playing the Italian. Kyrgios was fined a total of $35,000 by the ATP.

The Australian received three $5,000 fines for audible obscenity and unsportsmanlike conduct. He was also fined $20,000 for verbal abuse. Kyrgios repeatedly argued with chair umpire Carlos Bernardes during his straight-sets loss.

During the first-set tiebreak, Kyrgios smashed his racquet. Profanity led to a point penalty, leaving him trailing 6-3. A double fault then handed Sinner the opening set.

Now Sinner moves on in the tournament. He could face Ben Shelton or Casper Ruud next at the AO quarters. As the event progresses, the question remains. Can the Italian lift the Australian Open title for a third time?