Jannik Sinner overcame a scare as he kept his Australian Open title defence alive by coming from behind to beat Eliot Spizzirri in four sets.

The Italian triumphed 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 in three hours and 42 minutes, though had to overcome cramp, with the help of a timely roof closure.

The pair twice traded breaks in the first set, with Sinner taking the advantage both times, but Spizzirri dug in, winning the final four games, three of those to love, to take the lead.

Spizzirri started the second set with another break, but Sinner found his groove with a four-game winning streak of his own to turn the momentum. The world number two then held off two late break points to take the set.

However, the American raced into a 3-1 lead in the third set as Sinner struggled with cramp and was barely able to move. The heat then hit a worrying high, leading to a suspension in play so the roof could be closed.

Just under 10 minutes later, play resumed, but it was critical for Sinner as he fought back to level the score before taking the set.

Spizzirri again took a 3-1 lead in the fourth set, but Sinner was too strong as he won the next four games and took the match on his second attempt.

Sinner Survives ‍

The two-time defending champion defeats Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to return to the round of 16.@janniksin | @australianopen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/bICuIfPwJ6

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 24, 2026

"I got lucky," Sinner said in his post-match press conference. "At the point when they closed the roof, it took a little bit of time.

"I tried to loosen up a little bit. It helped... I also changed the way of playing certain points. That helped me, for sure."

Elsewhere, Stan Wawrinka bid goodbye to the Australian Open after a four-set loss to Taylor Fritz.

The American was pushed all the way in their two-hour-and-45-minute clash but came out on top 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-4 6-4 to end the three-time grand slam winner's last major in Melbourne.

Fritz will face Lorenzo Musetti in the next round, after the Italian was pushed all the way in his 5-7 6-4 6-2 5-7 6-2 victory over Tomas Machac.

Data Debrief: Sinner's hot streak continues

Sinner has claimed a 17th consecutive men's singles win at the Australian Open, becoming the youngest player to achieve the feat since Jim Courier in 1994.

And, he has also reached the round of 16 at a grand slam for the 19th time – Sinner currently only trails Novak Djokovic (21) for R16s since the start of the 2020 season.

Three Italians (Sinner, Musetti and Luciano Darderi) have reached the men's singles R16 at the Australian Open for the first time in the Open Era, with the two-time defending champion facing Darderi in the next round.