Jannik Sinner threw up in the towel in the 3rd round at the Australian Open, he wanted to abandon and the organizers' decision completely changed the situation » How the match ended
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Saturday, January 24, 2026, 07:53 / Updated Saturday, January 24, 2026 07:53
Jannik Sinner (24, world no. 2) was seriously shaking last night in Melbourne in the 3rd round, feeling unwell at several points in his match with American Eliot Spizzirri (24, world no. 85): the heat got to him, he threw up in the towel between games, then struggled with cramps, but eventually triumphed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, after three hours and 42 minutes of play.
The Italian came close to an untimely elimination in Melbourne, but advice from Darren Cahill to stay in the game and help from the organizers at a key moment saw him stay on the field and prevail in the end.
The match did not start as planned for Jannik Sinner. Spizzirri, world number 85, went into the duel very well, taking advantage of Sinner's slower start to the match and took advantage, with the intention of springing a surprise and qualifying for the round of 16. The Italian complained of cramps prematurely, he needed the intervention of the doctor and the match seemed to turn into a real fiasco for him.
The American managed an early break and held it until the end of the set (6-4), while Sinner was already showing a certain degree of discomfort and a slower movement.
The drama culminated in the second set for the former world leader. Sinner, visibly exhausted, threw up in the towel during the break between games, according to sportal.blic.rs.
Jannik Sinner went through hell before qualifying for the round of 16 at the Australian Open
Jannik Sinner went through hell before qualifying for the round of 16 at the Australian Open // photo: Imago
Despite the obvious stomach problems and the first signs of cramps, the Italian showed a champion mentality. He managed to stabilize his serve, reduce the number of errors and win the second set 6-3, leveling the score overall.
The third set was a test of endurance. Sinner was borderline, often leaning on the racket between points, but played tactically masterfully. The cramps gave him new headaches, he asked for the intervention of the physiotherapist again, and he even seemed resigned to the idea of giving up.
“I don't know what to do,” he told a visibly panicked Cahill at one point, and the Aussie insisted on staying on the field, no matter how bad it was. And the plan somehow worked, because at the score of 3-1, the organizers decided to apply the measure due to the excessive heat and stop all the matches, going to play only the indoor ones.
The break boded well for the world No. 2, who had time to settle and completely change his game after the roof was pulled.
He shortened the points and used every opportunity to attack, not allowing Spizzirri to draw him into too long exchanges that his body could not handle at the time.
The crucial mid-set break was enough for Sinner to win this leg 6-4 and take the lead after a nightmare start.
In the fourth set, Spizzirri was the first to get a break, leading 3-1, but then Sinner made a complete reversal of the score for 6-4 in the fourth set and a comprehensive victory.
