Tumaini Carayol is at Melbourne Park to report on defending men’s singles champion Jannik Sinner’s testing victory over world No 85 Eliot Spizzirri.

Sinner on cramping:

You know, with the leg, then I got in into the arm. So I was cramping a bit all over. But, you know, this is the sport. I know this is an area where I where I need to improve, we try to work on every day. I have a great team behind me who is pushing me in the right direction.

But in the same time tennis is a very mental game. I just try to to stay calm then we see. I’m here to fight. I’m here to play every point in the best possible way. And you know, today we saw the outcome that, even not playing my best.

Jannik Sinner has paid tribute to Eliot Spizzirri and spoken about his physical challenges this afternoon.

First of all, starting with him, he is an incredible player, he played really, really well today. I wish him really only the very best and I’m sure he has a great season this year.

I struggled physically a bit today. You saw this. I got lucky with the heat rule, they closed the roof, I took my my time, and as the time passed I felt better and better.

Very happy about this performance. Looking back, I’ve had some really tough matches and hopefully this can give me something positive for the next round, starting with with a good mentality again. And then we then we see what’s coming. But I’m really really happy.

Three hours and 45 minutes, much of it in near 40C heat, inducing cramps in his legs and hands… how much has this taken out of Jannik Sinner?

Sinner raises his fist to all corners of Rod Laver Arena, but it is a muted demonstration of relief, not of jubilation. He must know how lucky he has been this afternoon.

Spizzirri 4-5 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri doesn’t throw in the towel, holding to 15. Sinner will serve for the match.

*Spizzirri 3-5 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Sinner is starting to move and play with freedom as he eyes the finish line. He finds an angle from nowhere, then absolutely monsters a forehand that looks and sounds faster and more punishing than anything either player has hit all match. An ace adds the exclamation mark. This has been one hell of a scare but the two-time champion appears to have done enough.

Spizzirri 3-4 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Sinner has found some outrageous shots this set, the latest a backhand winner to go up 0-30 that kisses the joint of side and baseline. And for the first time today Spizzirri’s head appears to drop and two soft errors later the break is secured to love. Was that the moment this match swung decisively in the favourite’s favour?

*Spizzirri 3-3 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) This is becoming a real slugfest now. At 30-15 both men trade huge blows from the baseline, Spizzirri holding his own toe-to-toe, until Sinner goes long. A 16th ace showcases the Italian’s power, then a centimetre perfect drop shot demonstrates his clarity of thought under pressure.

Spizzirri 3-2 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri is trying to keep the tempo high and go for his shots, making life uncomfortable for the flagging Sinner. Both men trade points for 30-30 – then there’s another potentially match-defining point. The American is on top of the baseline exchange, comes into the net, has the opportunity put away the volley but Sinner chases it down in trademark fashion and finesses some portion of racket into the open court. Break point – and Sinner does it again! He benefits from a net cord which forces Spizzirri into the cute crosscourt drop shot towards the umpire’s chair, but Sinner is on it in a flash, lifting the ball over the net for an amazing break-back.

This match is nuts.

*Spizzirri 3-1 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Spizzirri with a clean return winner on Sinner’s second serve, then the Italian goes long for 0-30. Spizzirri is agonisingly close to a backhand winner but Sinner rescues it, then crunches a blistering winner of his own to turn 0-40 to 15-30. Both men then work each other around the court in a testing 16 shot rally that ends with the American finding a superb angle that forces Sinner into a lean that doesn’t slide. Brilliant tennis. AND EVEN BETTER FOLLOWS! Spizzirri again looks to have the point won once, then twice, but Sinner refuses to be beaten, somehow wrapping his racket around the ball to find a mind-blowing winner. But Spizzirri still finds the break! He charges the second serve return, volleys brilliantly at the net, and now has the upper hand in the fourth set!

Spizzirri 2-1 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* A second rapid service hold in a row for the outsider. He is 8/8 on serve so far this set.

*Spizzirri 1-1 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Spizzirri deserved credit for keeping return games simple when Sinner was imploding, but now he is missing some of those conservative shots while his opponent continues to drill winners. The American needs a change of strategy, if he has it in him, to put the pressure back on the Italian instead of waiting for him to make mistakes.

He does just that to drag 40-0 to 40-30 but Sinner holds after getting the better of a cautious baseline exchange.

Spizzirri 1-0 4-6 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri resumes after the long break between sets with a love hold. What further twists and turns await us in this unexpected round three classic?

There will be a longer break than usual between sets three and four, as part of the Extreme Heat Protocol.

Jack Snape is on the ground at Melbourne Park and has filed this update on the Extreme Heat Protocol.

Spizzirri 4-5 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* This is excellent from Spizzirri, keeping his game simple, forcing Sinner to hit more shots than he wants. But it’s also excellent from the Italian, swinging from his boots to nail a forehand winner deep in the corner to keep his opponent honest.

At 40-30 Spizzirri’s intensity dips and he concedes a couple of soft unforced errors to hand Sinner a break point. He responds magnificently, serving big and punishing the Italian’s stretched return.

Sinner keeps going for his shots though and some glorious crisp hitting, repeatedly behind Spizzirri, earns another break point, but this one goes begging off a framed return.

An ace opens the door for Spizzirri but the Italian closes it after a punishing 16 shot rally that ends with both men looking well short of peak fitness. This is becoming like a round on Squid Game.

Spizzirri gets another chance but he is now looking for some short points and goes wide off the backhand aiming for a winner much earlier in the rally than previously today.

Spizzirri errs mid-rally again – then double faults! Sinner will serve for the third set! What a match.

*Spizzirri 4-4 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Shorter points are easier on serve, of course, and the Italian rouses himself to go full bore and hold to 30.

Spizzirri 4-3 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* We’re now watching polar opposite strategies. Sinner is playing for short points, Spizzirri is doing his best to keep his opponent moving as much as possible. On this occasion Sinner’s sh*t or bust approach results in a quick hold for the American as a series of Hollywood shots fail to come off.

I wonder if the two-time defending champion is still in this mentally, or whether he has given up the grind for one almighty Hail Mary?

*Spizzirri 3-3 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) A double fault at 15-15 shows Sinner is still not his usual self, then a poor forehand clips the net and bounces out to hand Spizzirri two break points. The American makes a meal of a short second serve, then he clubs a routine backhand into the net, to let Sinner off the hook.

The second seed earns a game point but he can’t convert after losing a rally that ends with him again flexing the muscles in his left hand. Another opportunity follows behind an unfamiliarly aggressive serve, but again Spizzirri shuts the door with a forehand winner behind his opponent. The third deuce comes and goes with Sinner’s ninth ace of the day, but Spizzirri forces a fourth, as the match clock ticks over two-and-a-half hours. A 10th Sinner ace puts the superstar on the brink of a hold, and an 11th seals it. This match is wild.

I hope Spizzirri remains with his head in the contest. He has been dealt a cruel break, but he is still deep in this.

Spizzirri 3-2 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* The roof closure above Rod Laver Arena has happened much quicker than I expected and we’re underway just minutes after the suspension of play… and Sinner breaks back immediately, to 30, swinging freely and taking full advantage of his extraordinary good fortune. Poor Spizzirri.

It goes without saying that the playing conditions change under the roof. By neutralising the variables the odds lean more in Sinner’s favour.

*Spizzirri 3-1 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Sinner is cramping. During the changeover he glugged some pickle juice but it doesn’t stop the thumb on his grip hand cramping after his opening serve. Spizzirri just keeps on keeping on, sending the ball back from whence it came, forcing his opponent to hit shot after shot.

The intensity has dropped dramatically. Sinner’s errors are sloppier, and he double faults on his way to 15-40. “Let’s go point by point, dig deep,” urges coach Cahill. The second seed does that to move 30-40 but he continues to try and stretch his right thumb and find some energy as he walks to the service line. He does just enough to save another break point when Spizzirri dumps a backhand into the net, but he is walking awkwardly and returning repeatedly to his box at the end of each point.

He greets deuce with a welcome ace only to hand the point back with a failed drop shot. Now it’s his left hand cramping, forcing him to contort his wrist like a victim of the Cruciatus Curse.

The last thing Sinner needs is a long point full of running, but that’s exactly what Spizzirri gives him, the American earning a break point with a lob that his opponent barely stretches for. SINNER CAN HARDLY WALK! He’s like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz, jerkily staggering over to his box who are imploring him just to keep going. He does, second serving at just 111kmh, allowing Spizzirri to dominate, securing the break with a very very smart drop shot that Sinner cannot get near.

WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF A MASSIVE UPSET!

Jannik Sinner has called for the trainer. The physio and doctor come into the arena to work on the Italian’s right calf. It’s just some brief work during the changeover but an indication the second seed is not 100%.

Spizzirri 2-1 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Three unreturnable serves, two of them aces, as Spizzirri glides to an easy hold.

*Spizzirri 1-1 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2) Sinner cruises to 30-0 then capitulates to 30-40 with a double fault, before finding a welcome inside-out forehand winner. He seals the hold with an emphatic forehand put-away, but this remains a massive grind for the Italian, who has struggled to dominate his unseeded opponent on serve.

Returning to Sinner’s fashion, I’ve been reaching for the words to explain the attire of his box. There are four coaches in it, all wearing artichoke green athleisure t-shirts bedecked with corporate logos. A couple of them (including Darren Cahill) are wearing Secret Service-style shades. The overall effect is uncanny and a bit sinister, like they’re replicants in a Pilates-based Matrix, or staff at a dystopian leisure centre run by right-wing tech entrepreneurs.

Spizzirri 1-0 3-6 6-4 Sinner (2)* Refreshed after a little break, Spizzirri continues to absorb Sinner’s ferocity from the baseline to move up 40-15. Then he slaps a massive forehand winner down the line to take an early lead in the third set. The American is playing out of his skin.

The match duration is up to 98 minutes and the temperature is up to 37C. This is some serious punishment for Jannik Sinner. The Italian is now sat shirtless on his bench with the air-conditioner exhaust pipe resting on his chest. Eliot Spizzirri has left the arena for a change of clothes.

Spizzirri 6-4 3-5 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri continues to go toe-to-toe with his more credentialed opponent, holding his own from the baseline, profiting from Sinner’s regular errors. The American holds to 15 to force the second seed to serve out the second set.

*Spizzirri 6-4 2-5 Sinner (2) Now Sinner enjoys a rare love game on serve.

Spizzirri 6-4 2-4 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri holds quickly to love while Sinner spends most of the game hiding in the shade deep behind the baseline.

The heat stress scale is up to 4.3 and rising (a reminder that five is the maximum). That means conditions are close to as tough as is bearable before action is taken.

More on that here from earlier in the liveblog.

*Spizzirri 6-4 1-4 Sinner (2) Spizzirri is fighting so so hard, refusing to gift Sinner any cheap errors during rallies, making the Italian hit winners, or fail trying. At 15-30 the pressure is on Sinner’s serve, but he finds some form to fire an ace and move up 40-30, only to be clawed back to deuce by some more determined defence after taking up a dominant position at the net.

An unforced error leads to break point but Sinner saves it with some confident serve-volleying. He gets to the net quickly again for another cheap point, then Spizzirri makes a rare error from the baseline to concede the game.

This is a serious test for the second seed, magnified by the fierce heat.

Spizzirri 6-4 1-3 Sinner (2)* Spizzirri sends down his first double fault of the day on his way to 30-40 as Sinner starts to find his groove from the back of the court. The Italian then eases into another gear, executing a drop shot, bringing the American to the net, then passing with gusto behind him.

The temperature is up to 36C now. Even if the second seed escapes this trapdoor he is still facing one heck of a physical recovery after what is going to have to be a long afternoon in these conditions.

*Spizzirri 6-4 1-2 Sinner (2) Will Spizzirri wilt now? No chance. 0-15 arrives with a rasping backhand winner down the line that draws a wry smile from the four-time grand slam champion. Sinner again rises to the challenge, grinding to 30, then 40-15 with the latter point another showstopper ending with both men exchanging shots of the most acute angle either side of the net.

With both men gasping for air and the crowd on its feet Sinner is preposterously punished by the umpire for falling behind the serve clock, prompting the Italian to come to the chair to remonstrate. Spizzirri joins in too, supporting his foe’s claims, for which he receives a fraternal racket tap.

The delay has an effect. Instead of Sinner riding the energy of the crowd he slips back to deuce, before regaining his composure to serve out a rare hold.

Spizzirri 6-4 1-1 Sinner (2)* UNREAL! Spizzirri is in pure flow as he comes out on top of the rally of the match so far. It’s an energy-sapping 23 shotter, both men dragged side-to-side, forward and back, ending with Sinner up to the net and the outsider drilling a crosscourt pass like a Jedi seeing the ball before it arrives and executing the swish of the racket with freedom. Nonetheless the adrenaline sparks Sinner into life and he wins the next two points with determined fist pumps. The old Sinner returns on break point and Spizzirri shows the first hint of weakness, framing a ball on the baseline into the crowd.

*Spizzirri 6-4 1-0 Sinner (2) Sinner is not the flawless metronome of rounds one and two, missing his targets repeatedly in both attack and defence. Credit has to go to Spizzirri for digging in and just staying alive in rallies, not giving the world number 2 any cheap points, but this is extraordinary. In that opening set Sinner won just 50% of points on his first serve and 1/7 on his second!

The American starts the second set by forcing two break points as Sinner again punches himself out, overhitting after failing to put away a series of would-be winners. The first is butchered despite a cagey second serve, but the second is secured when Sinner strikes a groundstroke long.

What is going on!?

*Spizzirri 5-4 Sinner (2) Something quite remarkable might be happening on Rod Laver Arena. Spizzirri climbs all over a Sinner second serve to crunch a backhand winner for 30-30 then earns a break point after getting on top of a tete-a-tete at the net. A break point he secures with a swagger, forcing Sinner to retreat on the baseline then putting away a backhand volley at the net with aplomb. The American will serve for the opening set!

Spizzirri 4-4 Sinner (2)* Simmer’s unforced error count climbs to 13 as Spizzirri consolidates the break and wins his second game in a row to love. Darren Cahill and the rest of the Italian’s box give their charge a gee-up, encouraging him to be more aggressive.

Sinner is serving at 79%, by the way, but has won just 7/15 points behind it. Remarkable.

*Spizzirri 3-4 Sinner (2) FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE OPENING SET SINNER IS BROKEN TO LOVE! What is going on out there? Just like the previous game, it’s all on Sinner’s racket with a full complement of unforced errors rewarding Spizzirri’s ability to hang tough.

Spizzirri 2-4 Sinner (2)* Sinner starts to ease into rhythm and moves up 15-40, leathering the ball from the baseline, punishing anything short from Spizzirri. The American is holding his own in the main but every so often the Italian just unleashes a shot that takes your breath away. The break is secured by one of those, a crosscourt forehand from the baseline that accelerates off the racket at warp speed and blisters the court on its way to the back fence.

*Spizzirri 2-3 Sinner (2) Sinner holds, wearing an unarguably gross all-mustard outfit with mucky olive accents, which is the inverse of his nighttime uniform of mucky olive with mustard accents. His shorts are weirdly proportioned and his shirt collar is pointless. It does not befit one of the best players in the world. Reassuringly, Sinner a Gucci brand ambassador, apparently hates it. Up your game Nike.

Spizzirri 2-2 Sinner (2)* The ambient temperature is 34C and climbing on Rod Laver Arena. If you’ve never experienced that kind of heat before, it’s rubbish for playing sport in, I can assure you. If you have experienced that kind of heat, but not in Melbourne, it’s useful to know the difference between 30ish degrees and 40ish comes from fierce northerly winds, giving the sensation of being permanently stuck behind the exhaust pipe of a bus.

Spizzirri holds to 30. Sinner hasn’t settled yet.

*Spizzirri 1-2 Sinner (2) Unsure if I’m now actually drinking coffee, or a hallucinogen, Spizzirri breaks Sinner to love! The Italian makes four errors, three unforced, for a break as rare as a normal Melbourne weather day. That’s the first time this tournament the two-time defending champion has had his serve broken. Further, he only dropped serve once at the ATP finals.

Spizzirri 0-2 Sinner (2)* Sinner breaks to 30, as I was cleaning up the mess I made misusing the coffee machine. He is peppering Spizzirri’s backhand corner with those massive forehands.

*Spizzirri 0-1 Sinner (2) Sinner opens the match by holding to 30, as I was making myself a coffee.

The focus of my attention will soon be second seed Jannik Sinner who is up on centre court against 24 year old American Eliot Spizzirri.

Spizzirri is ranked 85 in the world and has impressed on the ATP Challenger circuit over the past couple of seasons. Before this year’s AO he’d won just one match at a major tournament, the opening round of the 2025 US Open, but has come through a couple of tough outings at Melbourne Park. First, a four set upset of 28th seed João Fonseca, then a five-setter against Wu Yibing.

Sinner, who has strolled through to third round conceding just ten games, represents an enormous step-up in class.

Over to the men’s draw where Tomas Machac has taken the opening set from fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti on John Cain Arena.

It’s better news for Italian tennis on Kia Arena with Luciano Darderi (22) a set up on Karen Khachanov (15).

There are already four American women through to the fourth round, and a fifth will join them shortly with Peyton Stearns and Amanda Anisimova (4) getting underway shortly on Margaret Court Arena.

It was encouraging to see Pliskova reach this stage of a slam after such a horrible run of injuries but it was clear that without the extra 20kmh of serving power that made her such a force 5-10 years ago her game is significantly diminished. Keys was ruthless in exploiting her advantage, dominating from the baseline and firing winners at will.

Keys also spoke about facing friend and podcast co-host Jessica Pegula in the fourth round.

It’s going to be a tough match. Jess is such a great player. She’s always so consistently doing well every single week that she plays. She’s such a competitor. She is in every single match. She’s just so gritty. So, you know, it’s always going really tough match.

It also makes it hard being friends, and we’re going to have to film a podcast before we play, so we’ll see how that goes.

It’s honestly been so much fun and it’s been really cool because everyone kind of gets to see more of our personalities, when we’re not stressed and just talking about the most insane things possible. So I think it’s really cool that everyone kind of gets to know us a little bit better, and we get to give them a little bit of an insight on what life on tour actually is like.

Madison Keys has spoken to Casey Dellacqua about her performance.

Overall I think I played pretty well. My serve got me out of some sticky situations. I’d give myself a pat on the back.

Definitely gives you a confidence boost that when you’re pushed you find your best tennis, I think that’s always a big thing for me. Just really trying to trust my game in those moments and believing in myself and no matter which way it goes as long as I back myself and I’m trying to do the right things.

I’m feeling really good. I was excited for the heat today. Being a Floridian, I was ready for it, so I was ready to get out here. Overall feeling really good and happy to have some clean matches and ready for the second week.

Pliskova 3-5 3-6 Keys (9)* A sixth double fault sees Pliskova slip to 15-30. A good serve levels the score but then Keys steps up a gear, climbing all over a couple of nervy first serves, securing the break with a rasping forehand return winner. The defending champion will serve for the match.

*Pliskova 3-4 3-6 Keys (9) Vintage Keys, serving massive, slapping huge groundstrokes off both flanks, and rushing to an aesthetically appealing love hold. The American now has six aces and 24 winners.

Pliskova 3-3 3-6 Keys (9)* Both players struggle for timing to 30-30 before Pliskova hits her straps, closing out an impressive point at the net then asserting herself behind her serve to secure the hold.

*Pliskova 2-3 3-6 Keys (9) Keys’s first serve percentage has dropped from 74% in the opening set to 53% in the second. It worked in her favour in that fifth game with Pliskova going all out with her returns to try and capitalise on the opportunity, too big as it turns out, with a series of attempted return winners failing to find their mark.

Pliskova 2-2 3-6 Keys (9)* Pliskova holds to love, showing that despite lacking the speed of her peak years she remains a seriously impressive power server.

*Pliskova 1-2 3-6 Keys (9) Keys’s inside-out forehand is like a guided missile to Pliskova’s backhand corner and it brings a relieving 30-all behind some poor serving. Then the ninth seed locates some service rhythm to see out the hold.

Pliskova 1-1 3-6 Keys (9)* Keys misses an opportunity at 15-30 when she clubs a short second serve wide, but still forces deuce when that inside-out forehand kisses Pliskova’s backhand corner. At which point the American misses with a crosscourt forehand and the Czech serves big to hold.

Elsewhere, Jessica Pegula (6) has won the opening set 6-3 against Oksana Selekhmeteva.

*Pliskova 0-1 3-6 Keys (9) Three aces and 16 winners in that opening set for Keys as she demonstrated her awesome power. She rips out another inside-out forehand cracker to level the scores at 30-30 then serves out a brisk hold.

*Pliskova 3-5 Keys (9) Pliskova has transformed this match. Her deep returning has not only provided a measure of aggression from her half of the court, it has also led to a significant decrease in Keys’s assertiveness with the American’s forehand speeds diminishing. The pattern continues with Pliskova charging up 0-30 but Keys responds with three massive aces and another huge first serve to close off a crucial game and resist Pliskova’s charge. That was clutch from the champion.

Pliskova 3-4 Keys (9)* That momentum swing gathers force as Pliskova holds to love then strides purposefully to her sun-shaded bench like a woman on a mission.

*Pliskova 2-4 Keys (9) Pliskova gets one break back, and at speed, with some superb returning. Time and again Keys found herself scrambling to regain her footing on the baseline with the ball hammered back in her direction off first and second serves. We have a match on our hands after all.

Pliskova 1-4 Keys (9)* After a 12 minute service game featuring eight deuces, Karolina Pliskova is on the board.

There’s a hint at an emerge of form as she peels off a running forehand winner from the corner for 30-30 but every rally looks a battle, with Keys by far the more assertive, fluid, and powerful player.

A brilliant second serve out wide on the Ad court saves break point, then she makes a rare advance to the net to suffocate Keys into an error. Both players then find some momentum in a mid-length rally – until Keys ends it with a beautiful change-up crosscourt drop shot.

Another big serve sets up the hold but Keys responds with her seventh clean forehand groundstroke winner, this time inside-out down the line. A second break point arrives courtesy of some more enforcing power play from the baseline, but Pliskova repels it with her increasingly effective serve. A similar pattern repeats with Keys forcing another break point from the baseline only for Pliskova to serve her way back to parity on the Ad court.

Break point four comes from a double fault, and Pliskova saves it by shortening the point with a bold backhand winner. As the game clock ticks beyond ten minutes a sliding serve is too much for Keys to control on the return, but Pliskova succumbs to a second double fault of the game, and we’re back on deuce for the eighth time. Finally Keys goes long with a pair of forehands and the bagel is averted.

*Pliskova 0-4 Keys (9) Temperatures have just hit 30C in Melbourne. Madison Keys is doing her best to find shade as quickly as possible, holding to love in quicktime.

Pliskova 0-3 Keys (9)* If Pliskova is to stay in this contest she needs to serve big, so it’s not a great sign that her first serve percentage is under 50% midway through her second service game with Keys up 0-30. The Czech finds some rhythm and a few easy points but Keys forces deuce with what is already her sixth clean winner of the day. The American is hitting the ball considerably harder than her opponent, dominating from the baseline.

Pliskova serves and volleys to set up game point but as soon as a rally forms Keys ups the ante, eventually putting away another forehand whip across her body. A double fault invites a break point and the defending champion secures the double break when Pliskova dumps a forehand into the net.

The early signs on RLA are that the ninth seed is too strong, too quick, and too aggressive for the former world number 1.

*Pliskova 0-2 Keys (9) Again Pliskova concedes soft unforced errors during innocuous establishing rallies to fall 30-0 behind. Keys double faults then overhits from the baseline as her opponent finds consistent depth in her groundstrokes for the first time this morning. A 190kmh ace sets up the hold but she can’t follow through and we head to deuce.

A lovely sliding serve out wide to the forehand side on the deuce court precedes a put-away backhand volley, but for the second time this game Keys can’t complete the job. Then she drops in her second double fault to concede a break point. She saves it with a massive forehand winner from the baseline, pulling her racket across her body and rotating her hips at speed.

And this time she does consolidate that early break with the hold, asserting herself behind some powerful serving.

Pliskova 0-1 Keys (9)* The 186cm Czech intersperses a trademark ace between a series of unforced errors to hand Keys a couple of break points. She saves the first but Keys secures the early advantage with a lovely in-to-out forehand winner. The champion has started strongly, striking the ball cleanly from the baseline. Pliskova, by contrast, looks a bit flat-footed and lacking timing.

The players are out on RLA. Key’s’s neon green Nike outfit is irridescent in the bright sunshine. Pliskova is serving in orange Adidas.

The first match we’re going to focus on today is the opener on Rod Laver Arena between defending champion Madison Keys (9) and former world number 1 Karolina Pliskova.

The 30 year old American is a known commodity following her victory at Melbourne Park last year. She has done enough in her opening two rounds without yet hitting her straps, and she’s definitely not in the form of 2025.

The 33 year old Czech is into the third round of a major for the first time since the 2023 AO following a long battle with injury. At the 2024 US Open Pliskova badly damaged her ankle, requiring two surgeries, and sidelining her for over 12 months. Between 2016 and 2021 she was a regular contender for the biggest prizes on tour, reaching two grand slam finals and ascending to number 1 on the WTA rankings. She starts today 1057 on the standings.

Both players are power hitters with two of the biggest serves in the women’s game.

Despite their ages they’ve only met once before on tour with Pliskova winning in three sets back in 2020.

Is there a better single sporting competition to secure artistic action shots?

Emma John has penned a thoughtful column on the Australian Open’s Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day and how Australian sport remains locked in a battle between its celebration of multiculturalism and the condemnation of racism.

Ever wondered what it takes to become an AO ballkid?

Ok, on with the show. Let’s move into sporting mode by checking in on yesterday’s action, when there were positive signs for an increasingly confident Alex De Minaur.

But British hopes were dashed for another year when Cameron Norrie was beaten by Alexander Zverev.

Women’s singles favourite Aryna Sabalenka was pushed hard by Anastasia Potapova.

What all that means for today’s competitors is one hell of a slog, with the threshold for intervention extremely high.

One straw for them to clutch is that conditions are expected to be worse on Tuesday, when the opposite half of the draw will be in action.

This might be cold comfort for Sinner in particular, who will be taking the court around midday for what is likely to be his only daytime appearance at this tournament. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz squeezed in their daylight obligations in more temperate conditions (both racing through in straight sets).

Some excerpts from The Australian Open Extreme Heat Protocol:

The AO-EHP takes into account the 4 environmental parameters that contribute to heat stress (air temperature, radiant heat, humidity & wind speed). It also takes into account the extent to which a person can control the rise in their body temperature and the physiological cost of doing so. These complex equations are expressed as a Heat Stress Scale (HSS) with stratified thresholds for cooling interventions.

In the event of extreme heat, the Referee has the right to suspend play or order a cooling break in accordance with this Australian Open Extreme Heat Protocol (EHP). The EHP applies to both the outdoor courts and the Arena Courts (Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena).

The EHP is based on the Australian Open Heat Stress Scale (AO-HSS) which has a scale of 1 to 5. AOHSS readings are continually made throughout each day of the Australian Open, including Qualifying.

Play is not suspended in singles competition until that scale hits the maximum 5, at which point the roof closes on the stadium courts and the outside courts are emptied.

At the time the AO-HSS reaches the thresholds noted above as relevant, the Referee may suspend the calling of any upcoming matches on outdoor courts. If matches on the outdoor courts have been suspended, the Referee may make the decision to close the roof or to keep the roof closed (as applicable) for any upcoming matches on the Arena Courts.

When that scale hits 4, cooling breaks are implemented. In the women’s singles that’s a ten minute respite between sets two and three, and for the men it’s ten minutes between sets three and four.