Jannik Sinner set a personal record with 19 aces as he won an all-Italian struggle with Luciano Darderi 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Monday to power into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The two-time defending champion had it all his own way in the first two sets, wrapping them up in barely an hour, But Darderi made the world No. 2 work at the end for his fourth-round victory, saving two match points in the 10th game.

Sinner sprinted ahead in the tiebreaker to advance  after two hours, nine minutes.

“It was very difficult, we are good friends off the court,” Sinner said. “I had difficulties with some opportunities I had which I could not use. So I was glad to close it out in three. 

“I started the match well, finding some pressure points.”

Sinner, coached by Aussie legend Darren Cahill, said that off-season work on his serve is showing results.

“We put in a lot of work on it, changed the motion a bit. But there is still room to improve. I’m feeling more confident with it now and happy how I’ve come into the new season.”

Sinner has never lost to a fellow Italian at the Tour level., winning all 18 matches he has played against compatriots including six at the four majors.

Fellow Italian Lorenzo Musetti booked a spot in the Melbourne last eight for the first time in his career after achieving that level already in Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

The fifth-seeded father of two took revenge over Taylor Fritz, producing a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 result while competing without his coach and physio, who were forced to return to Europe for personal reasons mid-tournament.

“Real life knocks the door sometimes. It’s something surprising. It makes you understand life better. I feel more mature and I’m playing better for them!,” Musetti said

Fritz defeated the Italian two months ago at the ATP Finals in Turin.

2019 Australian junior champion Musetti earned a date with 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, who advanced in a walkover when intended opponent Jakob Mesnik withdrew with abdominal muscle problems.

Musetti fired 13 aces in victory, breaking Fritz four times, earning his first career win over a top 10 opponent on hardcourt without losing a set. He has now completed a matched set of Grand Slam quarter-finals.

.”I feel very proud, I know Taylor well, we’ve had many battles.” this month’s Hong Kong finalist said.

“I came to this match with a different mentality, my serve worked very well. This was one of the best serving performances of my career.

“My goal was to start the season well and I’ve done that. I’ve never survived the first week here. I’ve worked hard on trying to be more aggressive with the forehand.

“I took the lead in the rallies today,” he said after striking 33 winners in victory.

Carlo Alcaraz has ditched his chrome-look hair, with the world No. 1 back to his natural dark shade.

The platinum blond iteration lasted for only a few autumn months after Alcaraz won the US Open in September, he sported his radical new look during the autumn, including hits straight-set thrashing he took in the ATP Finals in Turin against Jannik Sinner.

The Alcaraz reincarnation was spotted in Miami as the Spaniard attended an NBA game prior to a pair of well-paid American exhibitions with Frances Tiafoe and Joao Fonseca.

Alcaraz, one of the main complainers about the “too long” ATP season, has never been shy about cramming his calendar with exhibition paydays and defended his upcoming US matches.

“First of all, it’s normal that people think that way and they don’t understand why we’re complaining about the calendar and then we set up the exhibition matches,” Alcaraz told the AP.

“But for me, the main difference is that, at a tournament, you’ve got to keep your focus and it’s really physically and mentally demanding for one week and a half. And an exhibition is just one day. 

“You just stay focused, just warm up, just practice not that much – for one match.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz appears at Miami Heat game minus his platinum blond look

Jannik Sinner’s 7-6 (4), 7-5 defeat of Carlos Alcaraz to win the ATP Finals at a home Italian venue capped a runaway season for the world No. 2 which began in January with Australian Open trophy honours..

The 24-year-old was competing in his third straight final in Turin and backed up his 2024 trophy with a second on the trot as he saw off his Spanish opponent.

But there is no way he can compare the two seasons – both were great.

“Honestly, I don’t want to compare. It’s amazing season – last year has been an amazing season. 

“This year making four Grand Slam finals, coming here, winning here, having this big streak (31 straight wins on indoor hardcourt), it’s amazing

“Honestly, amazing season, no? Many, many wins, and not many losses. All the losses I had, I tried to see the positive thing and trying to evolve me as a player. 

“I felt like this happened in a very good way; I’m extremely happy with the season.”

He added: “I feel to be a better player than last year, this is the most important. It’s all part of the process. 

“I believe that if you keep working and trying to be a better player, the results, they’re going to come. This year it was like this.”

While ATP No. 1 Alcaraz – his point lead over Sinner just 550 points – carries on for a final fling at the Davis Cup finals in Bologna, Sinner will not be a part of the Italian side defending that title at the worldwide team event.

Victory in Turin was especially meaningful to Sinner, who had faced his hot rival five times this season in finals, earning his only win at Wimbledon.