MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jannik Sinner wasn't shaky or lucky to survive this time and the only thing really hot on Monday was his streak, which now stands at 18 straight wins at the Australian Open.
The two-time defending champion had a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) win over fellow Italian Luciano Darderi to reach the quarterfinals for a ninth consecutive Grand Slam event.
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Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Casper Ruud of Norway during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Luciano Darderi of Italy reacts as he plays against his compatriot Jannik Sinner during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy serves to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Sinner struggled two days previously with the extreme heat and cramping in the afternoon win over No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri, when he only took control after the roof was closed.
In an evening match in cooler conditions, Sinner was cruising until Darderi lifted his tempo in the third set. Second-ranked Sinner missed match points in the 10th game on Darderi's serve but then took it up a notch in the tiebreaker.
“I felt quite good out there physically. Everything was okay today,” said Sinner, who had limited practice on his off day between his third and fourth-round matches. “Let’s see what’s coming in the next round.”
It'll be a familiar foe. No. 8-seeded Ben Shelton beat No. 12 Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Sinner has won his last eight meetings with the 23-year-old American, including their semifinal here last year.
“I have a lot more that I want to do here, and I’ve got a lot to prove,” Shelton said. “I’ll be ready to go.”
Sinner, toward the end of his first official head-to-head with Darderi, had to improve to handle the sudden increased speeds of his rival's forehand.
Darderi saved two match points on his serve in the 10th game of the third set and took the first two points of the tiebreaker. He had to pause for a few moments then before serving because of a baby crying in the crowd at Margaret Court Arena.
He didn't win another point. Sinner reeled off the next seven to triumph in 2 hours and nine minutes.
It extended Sinner's unbeaten streak to 18 against other Italians on tour.
“It was very, very difficult. We’re good friends off the court,” Sinner said. “Third set I had some break chances, I couldn’t use them. I got tight, so very happy I closed it in three sets.”
Sinner had 19 aces — a personal record — and no double-faults. He also wanted to emphasize some minor changes to his game, including going to the net and trying to mix up his game.
In a tough hold in the third set, Sinner saved a breakpoint by changing the direction of the rally with a forehand drop shot, bending his knees low, and winning a crucial point. With a serve-and-volley, he held the game.
“Still room to improve, but very happy with how I’ve come back,” he said. “Now for sure, it (the serve) is a bit more stable. I try to go more to the net and being more unpredictable.”
The left-handed Shelton will throw everything he can at Sinner, who is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Australian titles.
Shelton is into the quarterfinals for the third time in four years.
“I’m definitely a competitor. I’m rowdy on the court. I look forward to rowdy crowds,” he said. “And down here in Australia, there’s no shortage.”
Shelton said he's a more “locked in” player than he was 12 months ago and he's growing in confidence.
Ben Shelton of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Casper Ruud of Norway during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Luciano Darderi of Italy reacts as he plays against his compatriot Jannik Sinner during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Jannik Sinner of Italy serves to his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Jessica Pegula knocked podcast pal and defending champion Madison Keys out of the Australian Open on Monday to secure a quarterfinal against Amanda Anisimova, another all-American match.
Their fourth-round wins on Day 9 meant four Americans reached the women's singles last eight in Australia for the first time since 2001, when Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport made it through.
“Sucks that one American has to go out in the quarterfinals,” Anisimova said.
Pegula had a slightly different take: “At least one of us will get through and I think that’s great for American tennis. Yeah, it’s been pretty crazy how well the women have been doing and how many top-ranked girls there are. I’m just happy to be a part of that conversation.”
Pegula and Anisimova advanced a day after No. 3 Coco Gauff and 18-year-old Iva Jovic earned their places on the other side of the draw.
Pegula's 6-3, 6-4 win at Rod Laver Arena ended Keys' first Grand Slam title defense in a tough section of the draw.
Anisimova, runner-up at the last two majors at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, advanced 7-6 (4), 6-4 over Wang Xinyu as the temperature started rising at Melbourne Park and organizers triggered the heat stress policy which allowed for extra cooling breaks.
“What a battle out there. Tough conditions against a really good opponent,” Anisimova said. “There were a lot of fans from China today but, honestly, it made the atmosphere great.”
No. 2 Iga Świątek continued her quest to complete a career Grand Slam with a 6-0, 6-3 win over home qualifier Maddison Inglis, giving the center court crowd little to cheer on the Australia Day national holiday.
Swiatek next meets No. 5 Elena Rybakina, runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka here in 2023.
Pegula is in the quarterfinals for the fourth time in Australia but has never previously gone further at the season-opening major. Anisimova is in the last eight here for the first time.
“I have been seeing, hitting, moving, I feel very well this whole tournament, and to be able to keep that up against such a great player as Maddie and defending champion was going to be a lot tougher of a task today,” Pegula said, “I was still able to do that really well.”
Pegula and Keys had played three times previously, and Keys had won the last two. But on Monday it was Pegula who dominated, racing to 4-1 leads in both sets.
“I felt if I didn’t hit a really good ball immediately, she was in charge of the points,” Keys said. “I was kind of struggling to kind of get that dominance back.”
Pegula's best performance in a major was reaching the U.S. Open final in 2024.
Three Italian men started Day 9. Only two could advance.
Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner beat compatriot Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) two days after admitting he felt lucky to survive the third round.
Sinner struggled with the extreme heat and cramping in his Saturday afternoon win over No. 85-ranked Eliot Spizzirri, and only took control of that match after the roof was closed in the third set.
His evening match Monday was much cooler, and so was Sinner. He served a personal best 19 aces and improved his streak to 18 straight wins at Melbourne Park.
The Italian star next faces No. 8-seeded Ben Shelton, who beat No. 12 Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in a night match. Sinner has won his last eight meetings with the 23-year-old American, including last year's semifinal here.
Lorenzo Musetti reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Australia with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win over an ailing Taylor Fritz.
It completed a Grand Slam set of quarterfinals for the 23-year-old Italian.
The fifth-seeded Musetti has had a disrupted run, with members of his support team having to return home for personal reasons. He also had to leave his family behind after the birth in November of his second son.
“I feel more mature on the court. I’m playing better for that, and for them,” he said.
His next mission is against a rested Novak Djokovic. The 24-time major winner was scheduled to be the feature night match Monday but instead had a walkover into the quarterfinals.
With a forecast maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, organizers planned to open the gates early for fans. Matches on the three arena courts are likely to be played with the retractable roof on.
Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates after defeating Maddison Inglis of Australia in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating his compatriot Luciano Darderi during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Lorenzo Musetti of Italy celebrates after defeating Taylor Fritz of the U.S. in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Wang Xinyu of China plays a backhand return to Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Wang Xinyu of China during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Jessica Pegula, left, of the U.S., is congratulated by her compatriot Madison Keys after winning their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Madison Keys of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Jessica Pegula during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Madison Keys during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Madison Keys of the U.S. reacts during her fourth round match against her compatriot Jessica Pegula at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Jessica Pegula of the U.S. plays a backhand return to her compatriot Madison Keys during their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
