'Got lucky today', says Sinner after surviving Spizzirri scare; podcasters Keys, Pegula plan trash talk

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITES FROM JANNIK SINNER, AMANDA ANISIMOVA, MADISON KEYS AND JESSICA PEGULA COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 24, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA – See restrictions) SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW STORY: Jannik Sinner battled back from the brink of a cramp-induced breakdown to keep his Australian Open title defence alive after extreme heat brought play to a halt on baking outdoor courts at Melbourne Park on Saturday (January 24). In a dramatic third-round match, Italian Sinner lost his first set since October against inspired American Eliot Spizzirri and was a limping wreck under a blazing sun at Rod Laver Arena. However, the match swung in his favour when the tournament invoked its extreme heat policy, allowing the stadium's roof to shut and Sinner to rally for a dramatic 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win. Sinner, who will meet fellow Italian Luciano Darderi in the fourth round, said he was "lucky" to finish the last two sets under the roof after cramp affected first his legs and then his arms. The heat shutdown halted outdoor matches for most of the afternoon but those on the main showcourts continued after the roofs were shut. With the temperature forecast to hit a scorching 40 degrees Celsius (104F), the action got underway an hour earlier than usual to take advantage of cooler morning conditions. Americans Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula capitalised on their early starts, beating Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-3 and Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3 6-2 respectively to set up a last-16 clash against each other. Defending champion Keys, the ninth seed, and sixth seed Pegula are both Florida-based and had little fear of the heat. Fourth seed Amanda Anisimova soon followed the duo into the fourth round with a 6-1 6-4 win over fellow American Peyton Stearns in the second match at Margaret Court Arena. Organisers warned fans to bring hats, slap on sunscreen and drink plenty of water — but many avoided the Grand Slam altogether. The day session attendance of 51,048 was some 10,000 short of day six on Friday and even less than last year's corresponding session. Meanwhile, Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula are planning to spice up their tennis podcast with some pre-match trash talk after setting up an all-American showdown in the last 16 The duo co-host "The Player's Box" podcast with fellow players Jennifer Brady and Desirae Krawczyk, and defending champion Keys said they would be filming on Sunday, a day before their match.  "We could literally be friends and laughing till the moment we walk on the court. Then, in that moment, we both want to win and we both are competitors," she said. "The moment it's over, you're back to being friends." Keys holds a 2-1 advantage in their head-to-head record, having beaten Pegula in Adelaide last year and at the U.S. Open in 2023. (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo)

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