Sinner survives, Djokovic sizzles as Australian Open bakes in heat

MELBOURNE, Jan 24 : Jannik Sinner battled back from the brink of a cramp-induced breakdown to keep his Australian Open title defence alive after extreme heat halted play on outdoor courts at Melbourne Park on Saturday but Novak Djokovic escaped the furnace to forge ahead.

Iga Swiatek continued to misfire in her hunt for a maiden Melbourne Park crown and a career Grand Slam, the second seed singed in her 6-1 1-6 6-1 win over Russian Anna Kalinskaya to reach the fourth round.

Local favourite Maddison Inglis' path was much easier after her opponent and twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka pulled out with an abdominal injury.

Second seed Sinner provided the early drama, as the Italian dropped his first set since October against inspired American Eliot Spizzirri and was a limping wreck under a blazing sun at Rod Laver Arena.

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.

The Italian said he was "lucky" to finish the last two sets under the roof, after cramp affected first his legs and then his arms.

"Tennis is a mental game. I just tried to play as calm as possible," he said before cutting short his on-court chat.

A trio of Italian men reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time, as Lorenzo Musetti beat Tomas Machac 5–7 6–4 6–2 5–7 6–2 and Luciano Darderi got past Karen Khachanov 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Djokovic opened the evening session on Rod Laver Arena in much better conditions, the Serb defeating dangerous Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) to continue his hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

With his 102nd match win at Melbourne, he equalled six-times champion Roger