Sinner overcomes cramps, heat to continue Australian Open title defense. Djokovic gets 400th win

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Limping and desperately trying to stretch out cramps in his arms and legs, Jannik Sinner had just gone down a break in the third set when the extreme heat rules saved him.

Play was suspended for eight minutes while the roof was closed on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday afternoon, and the two-time defending Australian Open champion returned a revitalized man.

After being on the verge of an unlikely exit — one of his coaches, Darren Cahill, was urging the 24-year-old Italian just to stick it out for a few more games — Sinner won five of the next six games to take the set against No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri.

Another 10-minute "cooling break" between the third and fourth sets followed — an allowance under the extreme heat policy — and Sinner returned for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory that highlighted a dramatic contrast of intense light and shade.

“I struggled physically today. I got lucky with the heat rule," Sinner said, agreeing that the cooler indoor conditions suited him much more than the energy-sapping heat of the first two sets. “I try to stay calm even in a moment like this. If he keeps playing the way he was playing, maybe I was dropping a little bit, maybe my tournament was over today. I don’t know."

Spizzirri was magnanimous about it, adding: “ That’s the rules of the game, and, you know, you got to live with it.”

Novak Djokovic became the first player ever to notch 400 match wins at the majors when he beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a night match.

The 24-time major winner improved his win-loss record to 102-10 at the Australian Open, equaling Roger Federer’s career haul for the most-ever match wins at the season’s first major.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew because of an abdominal injury before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis, ending a campaign noted strikingly for fashion and friction.

That sent Inglis into a fourth-round match against No. 2-ranked Iga Świątek, who had a 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 win over Anna Kalinskaya.

No. 4 Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 in an all-American encounter and will next face Wang Xinyu, who upset No. 13 Linda Noskova.

No. 5 Elena Rybakina advanced to a fourth-round match against No. 21 Elise Mertens.

The 40-year-old Stan Wawrinka lost 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 to No. 9 Taylor Fritz and then grabbed two beers from a courtside ice box, cracked the cans with the tournament director and bid farewell to the crowd. “Cheers everybody! ” he said.

Fritz will next face No. 5 Lorenzo Musetti, who held off Tomas Machac 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 to become the third Italian man to reach the fourth round.

No. 8 Ben Shelton beat Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Margaret Court Arena and said having the roof closed “just amplified the noise.”

The 37-year-old Marin Cilic, U.S. Open champion in 2014 and Australian Open runner-up four years later, lost in four sets to father-to-be Casper Ruud.

An earlier start than usual on Day 7 was no worries for defending champion Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula. No. 9-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 and No. 6 Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2.

Next up for the two Americans, and podcast pals, is a fourth-round encounter against each other.

Play was suspended on outside courts for five hours from the mid-afternoon until around 7:30 p.m. local time.

The temperature was around 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) when the tournament’s so-called heat scale hit a maximum of 5 in the mid-afternoon. The temperature Saturday didn’t quite reach the forecast maximum of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The maximum forecast for Sunday is 24 C (75 F).

Sinner will next play fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, who beat No. 15 Karen Khachanov 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Reflecting on his drama at 3-1 down in the third set, the No. 2 seed said he was just trying to survive.

“It started with the legs. Got to the arms. I was cramping a bit all over,” Sinner said. “This is an area I know I need to improve.”

In the second set, Sinner was given a rare time violation by chair umpire Fergus Murphy as he was preparing to serve. In a show of sportsmanship, Spizzirri intervened, approaching the umpire and saying he hadn't been ready to receive.

He had the crowd on his side, until Sinner's movement became visibly wobbly.

Under the roof — with the glare gone, the temperature easing across the third and fourth sets and the radiated heat from the court plummeting — the momentum swung.

“I don’t know if he got saved by it,” Spizzirri said. “I smiled a little bit when the heat rule went into effect, just because it was kind of funny timing. But at the same time, the game at 2-1 in the third set was when it hit, I think it’s 5 (on the heat scale), which means that the heat rule is in effect. So whenever that game was over, whether I broke or whether he held, we were going to close the roof.”

Iga Swiatek of Poland reacts after defeating Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland holds up a beer following his third round loss to Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

FILE - Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto Rod Laver Arena for her first round match against Antonia Ruzic of Croatia at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner, left, of Italy walks from the court with Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. after winning their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy receives treatment from trainers during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S.at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy rests at his coaching box during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Jannik Sinner of Italy takes a drink during his third round match against Eliot Spizzirri of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. plays a backhand return to compatriot Peyton Stearns during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys, left, of the U.S. is congratulated by Karolina Pliskova, right, of the Czech Republic following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Madison Keys of the U.S. waves after defeating Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Naomi Osaka of Japan walks onto court for her second round match against Sorana Cirstea of Romaniaat the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Ben Shelton of the U.S. reacts after defeating Dane Sweeny of Australia during their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia serves to Jessica Pegula of the U.S. during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Oksana Selekhmeteva of Russia during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a forehand return to Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Blades Brown handled the scariest tee shot at PGA West to an island green like a seasoned pro Saturday in The American Express. And then he looked the part of an 18-year-old, finding a young fan along the ropes for a game of “paper, scissors, rocks” as he headed toward the green.

The teen is having a blast in the California desert, and it could get even better.

He goes into the final round one shot behind Si Woo Kim — another teen prodigy from a generation ago — and tied with none other than Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world.

Pressure? It didn't look like it. Didn't sound like it, either.

“I’m 18 years old playing on the PGA Tour. How awesome is that?” Brown said. “I finished high school about two weeks ago, so it’s nice to have that burden off my back, but I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”

Kim, who was 17 when he made it through the final version of the old Q-school in 2012, quietly went about his business at La Quinta Country Club with a 6-under 66 to grab a one-shot lead, a good day to be at one of the easier courses when the wind finally arrived in the Coachella Valley.

Kim was at 22-under 194.

Scheffler and Brown were on the tough Stadium Course at PGA West — even tougher with the fan turned on — and each shot a 68 with a finish that was vastly different.

Brown, playing an hour-and-a-half ahead, finished off his round with three straight birdies, the one from 25 feet on the island-green 17th and from 45 feet on the final hole.

“Hooped two putts coming in, and that was cool,” he said. (He also won the game with the kid on the fifth try — rock beats scissors).

Scheffler didn't have a lot of close birdie chances with a wedge in hand (the wind and firmest set of greens had a lot to do with that) but he hit two of his best shots with a drive that covered the bunker and a 5-iron into the dangerous green on the par-5 16th.

“Probably the best shot of the day,” he said.

That set up birdie, and then he escaped a tough lie in dormant grass by holing a 25-foot par putt.

For a sport that has 165 years of championship golf behind it, the records can be a little messy. Brown could become the youngest winner in nearly a century, probably longer.

Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open in 1931 at 18 years, six months — a couple of months younger than Brown — but that tournament was regarded as a regional event. Young Tom Morris won his first British Open in 1868 at age 17.

Regardless, it would be phenomenal feat, and that's without the road here.

With all the attention on his age, Scheffler was more impressed with Brown playing his eighth round in as many days on Sunday. Brown played the Korn Ferry Tour event in the Bahamas (a tie for 17th) that ended Wednesday. He tapped in, showered, got use of a private jet to fly that night to California and arrived at his hotel about 14 hours before his tee time.

And then he competed against the strongest field in some three decades at The American Express.

“I don't think people understand how difficult that is to do,” Scheffler said. He doesn't know a lot about Brown except to say, “Obviously, he's got a lot of talent.”

Brown didn't look the least bit fatigued not at his age and this chance in front of him.

“I feel great,” Brown said. “I got another opportunity to see what we can make happen tomorrow. Got another 18 holes and, yeah, should be fun.”

The other two guys in the final group should have plenty of fun, too. Scheffler helped get Kim a membership at Royal Oaks in Dallas, and they are regulars on the weekend game. They competed plenty in the month leading to The American Express.

Scheffler confirmed Kim beat him the last time they played by adding, “Yes, I gave him back a little of his money.” Scottie always keeps score.

Kim finished at La Quinta and said he wanted mainly to have fun on Sunday, which was followed quickly by a query: “Am I playing with Scottie?”

“Hopefully playing with Scottie, and we can have some fun,” Kim said.

It was PGA West some 13 years ago that a 17-year-old Kim made it through the last edition of the old Q-school, having to wait until he was 18 to join the PGA Tour. He was 21 when he captured The Players Championship, one of his four tour victories. He has become a favorite of most players.

“Have you ever spent any time with him? He's hilarious,” Scheffler said.

Sunday might be all business, and they all know enough about this tournament not to get wrapped up in the final group. Scores have been low even in a difficult wind.

Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, who can go low without notice, and Eric Cole each shot 66 at La Quinta and were two shots behind. Another shot back was Tom Hoge, who had a 65 at La Quinta. Nine players in all were separated by four shots.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Blades Brown misses a birdie putt at the second hole during the third round of the American Express golf event on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Scottie Scheffler reaches up to catch his golf ball his caddie tossed to him at the 18th green during the third round of the American Express golf event on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Blades Brown celebrates a birdie putt at the 18th green during the third round of the American Express golf event on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Si Woo Kim, of South Korea, hits his tee shot at the third hole during the second round of the American Express golf event at the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Scottie Scheffler pumps his fist after making a par on the 18th hole during the third round of the American Express golf event on the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, in La Quinta, Calif. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)