Australian Open Day 7: Sinner saved by the roof

Jannik Sinner needed divine intervention to win Wimbledon last summer. He may be getting the same at this Australian Open.

A closed roof and 10 minutes of stoppage time saved Sinner in his third-round match against Eliot Spizzirri on Saturday afternoon. With the score tied at one set apiece and Spizzirri leading 3-1 in the third, the two-time defending champion was suffering from leg and hand cramps in what was an outdoor match at the time.

But that’s when the tournament’s heat rule kicked in as the index reached the 105-degree threshold. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was closed, during which the players — Sinner, specifically — got a 10-minute break.

Although the Italian never quite looked 100 percent, he was an entirely different player when the contest resumed. Sinner broke back immediately and was off to the races in route to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

“It was hot today,” the world No. 2 assured. “(I) started to cramp a little bit in the third set, which then after time it went slowly away. I know my body slightly better now with a bit of experience also, trying to handle certain situations a bit better. (I) got lucky today. At the point when they closed the roof, it takes a little bit time. (I) 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.”

Sinner is ultimately bidding for his fifth Grand Slam title. His last one came at Wimbledon, where he trailed Grigor Dimitrov two sets to love in the fourth round when the Bulgarian abruptly retired with a shoulder injury.

Top five highlights on Day 7:

Australian Open Day 7 scores

Jannik Sinner d. Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Novak Djokovic d. Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Lorenzo Musetti d. Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
Taylor Fritz d. Stan Wawrinka 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Luciano Darderi d. Karen Khachanov 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Jakub Mensik d. Ethan Quinn 6-2, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
Casper Ruud d. Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
Ben Shelton d. Valentin Vacherot 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5)