Historic Feat! Three Italians In Australian Open Men’s Singles R16 For First Time

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 13:33 IST

Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti and Luciano Darderi make history as three Italians reach the Australian Open Round of 16 for the first time.

Lorenzo Musetti plays a forehand return to Tomas Machac (Picture credit: AP)

For the first time in Open era tennis, three Italians find themselves in the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, with defending champion Jannik Sinner, fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti and 22nd seed Luciano Darderi all in the top 16 of the season-opening Slam.

Musetti defeated Tomas Machac in a five-setter, Darderi stunned 15th seed Karen Khachanov in four sets, while Sinner beat Eliot Spizziari in four sets as well.

The Open Era at the Australian Open began in 1969 and hence, a 57-year-old record has been broken.

Meanwhile, the third-round meeting between Sinner and Spizzirri at Rod Laver Arena was halted for about 10 minutes to allow the roof to close as severe heat struck Melbourne.

It helped save Sinner, who was suffering from cramps and wilting in the heat. With the roof shut, he pulled through 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 over a gruelling 3hr 45min.

“I struggled physically a bit today, as you saw. I got lucky with the heat rule; they closed the roof," Sinner said after the match.

His reward is a clash next with Darderi, his compatriot and the third Italian in the Round of 16 besides him and Musetti.

Musetti goes up against either American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or the Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka next. The latter is playing Fritz at the moment on the John Cain Arena.

The 40-year-old Wawrinka must try and rouse himself on his Australian Open farewell after a sapping five-set victory over Arthur Gea in round two.

Notably, Sinner is the only Italian to have ever won the Australian Open, but Musetti and Darderi will now have an opportunity if they can pull off major upsets. Musetti is one of the four Italians to have won an Olympic medal, having joined the list with his bronze medal in Paris in 2024.

Sinner currently has 24 ATP Tour titles to his name, way ahead of Adriano Pannatta’s 10.

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