World no. 1 Jannik Sinner is through to his third Australian Open quarter-final within four years. The Italian faced Holger Rune in the fourth round at Rod Laver Arena and earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory in three hours and 13 minutes.
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The Dane challenged the world's best player for a set and a half. He claimed the second set and pushed Sinner to the limits in the early stages of the third before the 23-year-old stepped in and brought the win home without further issues.
Jannik fired 14 aces and made the difference with the first serve. He landed 35 winners and unforced errors and welcomed 50 unforced mistakes from the other side. Sinner got broken once from five chances offered to his opponent.
He took 36% of the return points and converted four of eight break points en route to a solid victory and a place in the last eight. The Italian had the upper hand in the shortest and most advanced rallies. He made the biggest difference in the mid-range ones, taking a 37-21 lead.
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Jannik provided five comfortable holds in the opening set. He made an early push on the return and drew Rune's error for a break at love in game two. World no. 1 blasted powerful serves in the third game, cementing the lead and opening a 3-0 gap in ten minutes.
Holger reduced the deficit with a hold in game four before netting a backhand in the next one, falling 4-1 behind. The Dane closed the sixth game with a forced error before missing a backhand in the next one, allowing the Italian to move 5-2 in front.
Sinner served for the opener at 5-3 and fired a service winner, holding at love and closing the first part of the duel in 34 minutes.Rune survived a scare in the middle of the second set and clinched it with his only break to level the overall score.
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He held at 30 with a backhand down the line winner in the first game and grabbed the third after a deuce for 2-1. Jannik held at love in the fourth game and made a push on the return in the next one. He missed two break points, squandering a chance to move in front.
The younger player secured the seventh game with a forehand winner and made his first push on the return in the next one. Sinner faced a break point and hit a double fault, losing serve for the only time and falling 5-3 behind.
The Dane served for the opener in game nine and welcomed the rival's forehand error, leveling the overall score after an hour and 18 minutes. Jannik faced more issues on serve early in the third set. He denied two break points in the third game.
The second brought an incredible rally, and the Italian saved it with a forehand drive-volley winner before holding for 2-1. World no. 1 squandered game points in the fifth game and played against another break chance.
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The defending champion saved it with a powerful serve and closed the game for 3-2. Rune squandered game points at 3-4 and experienced a massive setback. He netted a routine backhand on the second break point, losing serve and falling 5-3 behind.
Sinner served for the set in game nine and held at love with an ace, opening two sets to one advantage after two hours and 28 minutes. World no. 1 served well in the fourth set and broke the rival's resistance.
Jannik grabbed a break in the third game with a forehand winner and held at 15 for 3-1.The Italian delivered another fine hold in the sixth game, moving 4-2 up and closer to the finish line. Holger lost steam and suffered a break in the seventh game to fall 5-2 behind.
Sinner held at 30 in the eighth game, sealing the deal and moving into the quarter-final.
