Jannik Sinner is still the man to beat in Melbourne. The two-time defending champion marched into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, easing past fellow Italian and No. 22 seed Luciano Darderi 6-1 6-3 7-6(7-2) on Margaret Court Arena. It was clean, controlled, and at the key moments, cold-blooded. With it, Sinner moved into his 15th career Grand Slam quarter-final and his ninth in a row—numbers that underline why the world No. 2 remains on track for a remarkable third straight Australian Open title.

In a tournament that runs from January 11 to February 1, the 24-year-old has set an early tone again. He has now won 19 matches in a row at tour level, including 18 straight at the Australian Open, and an eye-popping 33 of his last 34 sets. Against Darderi, who has enjoyed a breakout stay in Melbourne, Sinner’s level stayed steady even when tension crept in late.

Sinner in command on Margaret Court Arena

The first two sets were a reminder of Sinner’s standard when he settles into rhythm. He struck first and struck hard, breaking early and keeping Darderi’s baseline game pinned back. The defending champion controlled the centre of the court, served with purpose, and pounced on short balls. The 6-1, 6-3 opening told the story: Sinner was not in a giving mood.

Just as important, he moved freely. That mattered after he battled cramp issues in his previous match against American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri. Any concern that those struggles might linger was quickly quieted by Sinner’s footwork and balance through the first hour.

“Is Sinner even dropping a set again in Melbourne this year?”

Streaks piling up at the Australian Open

These are not just wins; they are markers of a player in full flow. Sinner’s current run includes:

• 19 consecutive tour-level victories
• 18 straight wins at the Australian Open
• 33 of the last 34 sets won
• 15th Grand Slam quarter-final, ninth in a row

For perspective, sustained dominance like this at the majors demands not only top-end shotmaking but also everyday reliability—clean holds, steady returns, and a refusal to toss away cheap games. Sinner is hitting that mix now as well as anyone in men’s tennis.

An all-Italian clash with a twist

Facing a countryman on a big stage can be tricky. Sinner and Darderi know each other well, and Sinner admitted that the dynamic plays on the mind. “It was very, very difficult… We were good friends off court. It’s a small difficulty to also put away,” he said. There is respect there, and respect can blur the instinct to finish.

The world No. 2 lifted the lid on how the third set tightened: “I felt like in the third set I had a couple of break chances but couldn’t use them, then I got very very tight. I’m very happy I closed it in three sets.” In the end, he did close, and the stat remains jarring: Sinner is now 18-0 against fellow Italians on tour.

“18-0 vs. Italians is wild—who breaks that run?”

The third-set squeeze and champion’s calm

There was a wobble. Serving at 5-4 in the third, Darderi fended off two match points to level the set and keep the door open. The crowd, sensing a late swing, perked up. But Sinner’s response was the difference: he parked the missed chances, reset on return, and did not let Darderi sniff a lead.

By the time the tiebreak arrived, Sinner was back on script. The 7-2 breaker was crisp and composed—first strike on serve, early aggression off the forehand, and no free points. It was the kind of finish that shuts down doubt and reminds the field that a champion understands the biggest points better than most.

“That tiebreak was a message: pressure doesn’t crack Sinner, it sharpens him.”

Italy’s rising wave—and Sinner at the front of it

This tournament also carries a bigger Italian story. For the first time in the Open Era, three Italian players reached the fourth round of singles at a major. That is not just a fun note—it signals real depth. Darderi’s own run into the second week shows he belongs in these conversations.

Yet Sinner remains the one setting the pace. As the No. 2 seed, he has made Melbourne his stronghold, and the group around him knows it. The confidence of back-to-back titles, the comfort on these courts, and the repetition of winning habits—together they build a cushion few can reach. Even on a day when his forehand dipped for a few games or a return game slipped by, Sinner’s base level stayed higher.

What this quarter-final berth means

With another straight-sets win, Sinner stays on schedule for a tilt at a third consecutive Australian Open crown. The metrics are friendly: quick matches, low time on court, and very little scoreboard stress. Physically, the step forward after the Spizzirri match is a notable tick. Mentally, closing out a tricky tiebreak after missed match points is another.

The quarter-final will raise the bar. It always does. But Sinner’s toolkit is refined for the business end: a heavy, reliable backhand, smarter first-serve patterns, and improved point construction under pressure. The opponent will change; the task will not. Control the middle, pick the right moments to lean on the forehand, and keep the return games tight enough to create the one break that matters.

More than anything, it is the feeling that he carries into the last eight that will worry the rest: this is Sinner’s court, and until someone moves him, he is not moving.

Australian Open 2026 note: The tournament runs January 11 to February 1 in Melbourne. Sinner, the No. 2 seed, has now banked an 18-match win streak at this event and continues one of the most reliable runs seen at a major in recent years.

Bottom line

On a day when an inspired countryman asked real questions late, Jannik Sinner had the exact answers. He remains perfect against Italians on tour, perfect in tiebreak focus when it counts, and perfect in his quarter-final march at the majors. The numbers are bright, the level brighter, and the message brightest of all: the champion’s path still runs through Sinner in Melbourne.