Melbourne witnessed a dramatic shift in fortunes on Day 9 of the Australian Open, headlined by Jannik Sinner’s commanding advance and defending women’s champion Madison Keys’ unexpected exit. Sinner, demonstrating formidable resilience, secured his quarterfinal berth with a decisive 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over compatriot Luciano Darderi. This performance, a stark contrast to his physically taxing third-round match, underscored his status as a top contender.
The Italian contingent received a further boost as Lorenzo Musetti achieved a career milestone, reaching his first Australian Open quarterfinal by defeating an injury-plagued Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. This sets the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between Musetti and the legendary Novak Djokovic, who received a walkover into the last eight.
In a stunning upset, Jessica Pegula ousted close friend and reigning champion Madison Keys in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. The defeat concluded Keys’ title defense and fulfilled a lighthearted pre-match wager, obliging her to consume a cheese-smothered apple pie. Pegula now advances to face fellow American Amanda Anisimova, who triumphed over China’s Wang Xinyu.
Meanwhile, world No. 2 Iga Swiatek delivered a dominant performance, dismissing local hope Maddison Inglis 6-0, 6-3 and eliminating the last Australian from the women’s singles draw. Her next challenge is former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who overpowered Elise Mertens.
With extreme heat forecasts exceeding 45°C (113°F) for the upcoming matches, tournament officials face potential disruptions, including the closure of stadium roofs to ensure player safety.