Sinner And Alcaraz Advance Amid Heat And Controversy At Australian Open

As the Australian Open 2026 surges into its second week, the drama on the courts of Melbourne Park is matching the intensity of the blistering summer heat. With the mercury expected to reach a scorching 42 degrees Celsius, tournament organizers have been forced to shuffle the schedule yet again, postponing wheelchair events and moving outdoor play to an early 9am local start. But the heat isn’t just affecting the logistics—it’s become a central storyline, shaping player performances and fueling rivalries that have tennis fans on the edge of their seats.

One of the tournament’s most compelling narratives revolves around the ongoing rivalry between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Both young stars have advanced to the quarter-finals, but not without their share of drama—on and off the court. Sinner, the 24-year-old Italian sensation, secured his quarter-final berth with a commanding 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 win over compatriot Luciano Darderi on January 26. The straight-sets victory was a testament to Sinner’s form, but it was his run-in with tournament rules that made headlines before a ball was even struck.

During the pre-match coin toss, umpire Greg Allensworth spotted a WHOOP fitness tracker under Sinner’s wristband—a device strictly banned at Grand Slam events. Sinner, unfazed, removed the tracker when asked and later reflected, "Rules are rules, I understand and I won't use it again. The umpire asked me straight away if this was a tracker. I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Remove'. It's fine. There are other things we could use. You know it's the vest but it's a bit uncomfortable for me. You feel like you have something on your shoulders and it's a bit different."

Sinner wasn’t alone in running afoul of the wearable ban. Carlos Alcaraz, his Spanish rival and potential final opponent, had also been told to remove his WHOOP device during his victory over Tommy Paul. Tennis Australia clarified, "Wearables are currently not permitted at Grand Slams. The Australian Open is involved in ongoing discussions on how this situation could change." Even Aryna Sabalenka faced a similar predicament earlier in the tournament, highlighting the confusion among players about what technology is allowed on court.

Beyond the gadgets, it’s the extreme heat that’s truly testing the mettle of the world’s best. Alcaraz, who hails from the sun-baked region of Murcia, Spain, sees the conditions as a potential advantage. Speaking in his most recent press conference, the 22-year-old was candid: "He is from a mountain area, very cold. I’m from Murcia, very hot. The warmer conditions benefit me; I’m not going to deny that, but in the end, as he has been on the circuit for a long time and since we are playing a lot in the summer, I think he has also adapted. Even so, we can see that it still sometimes costs him, and that’s something that I can take advantage of in my case."

Alcaraz’s remarks come on the heels of Sinner’s earlier struggles with cramping during his match against Eliot Spizzirri. The Italian benefited from a heat rule-enforced break, which allowed him time off court to recover and ultimately turn the match around. This decision drew criticism from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who accused the Australian Open of making a significant error by granting Sinner the reprieve. The controversy has only added fuel to the competitive fire between these two rising stars.

Despite the challenges, both Sinner and Alcaraz have looked formidable. Alcaraz, for his part, has yet to drop a set in Melbourne, dispatching Tommy Paul with clinical efficiency to set up a quarter-final clash with hometown favorite Alex de Minaur. Sinner, aside from his brief wobble against Spizzirri, has been equally dominant, brushing aside Luciano Darderi to keep his title hopes alive.

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic continues to loom large, advancing to the quarter-finals without even stepping on court after Jakub Mensik withdrew due to injury. Djokovic’s next opponent, Lorenzo Musetti, is relishing the challenge. The Italian, who ousted Taylor Fritz—hampered by knee and oblique injuries—expressed his determination: "I think it will be a tough match, for sure. Of course, he's feeling good. He hasn't lost a set. He had the chance to rest for a few days. I think at this age, I think he was happy about it, of course, to try to be well-prepared and well-relaxed for this match. But of course, we know each other pretty well because we played a lot. Just won once against him. Hopefully, I'll take my revenge, because last time in Athens we were really, really close. I feel like I have another chance now. I think the thought that I have and the mentality that I have to put on the court in the next match against Nole is probably that one, trying to go for winning the match and not playing the match. I feel ready to try to push him to his maximum."

Ben Shelton, another young American making waves, booked his third quarter-final appearance at Melbourne Park, overcoming Casper Ruud in four sets after dropping the opener. Meanwhile, Learner Tien has been hailed for his tactical prowess in his straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev. French coach Nicolas Escude praised Tien’s performance: "I’ve never seen Tien overplay or overheat. On the other hand, he was absolutely perfect in his tactical mastery of the match and in the way he approached it and played Medvedev. That was extraordinary. Medvedev likes a fight, a fast pace, shots played diagonally. For two sets, Tien didn’t give him the same ball twice. He never stopped moving him around with his left foot. Daniil ended up completely missing the mark, of course. But what we should remember is Tien’s tactical mastery, which was quite extraordinary."

The women’s side has seen its share of shake-ups as well. Reigning champion Madison Keys was ousted by Jessica Pegula, while Iga Swiatek powered past qualifier Maddy Inglis with a 6-0, 6-3 victory to secure her own spot in the quarter-finals. The relentless heat has forced organizers to rely on the retractable roofs and air conditioning of Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena, ensuring the singles quarter-finals can proceed without interruption.

Injuries and adaptation have become recurring themes at this year’s Open. Taylor Fritz, reflecting on his loss, admitted, "Today I was feeling it from the get-go. I felt good in my warm-up. Then when I went to do my pre-match stuff, like moving around and stuff before the match, I just told my physio my knee doesn’t feel great. I was hoping it would loosen up. It didn’t get worse but it kind of just stayed the same the entire match. My oblique [was also injured]. We tried taping it because I felt like in the first round it wasn’t that big of an issue. In the second round maybe a little bit more... Before the tournament I did an ultrasound. After the second round I did an ultrasound. Yesterday I did an MRI on it. It’s the exact same thing I had last year that took me out for the beginning of the clay court season and a bit during the hard court season I tried to play through. All the scans show that there’s not like an obvious tear there like there was before. But I’m being cautious."

As the action heads into the business end of the tournament, all eyes remain fixed on the looming showdown between Sinner and Alcaraz. With both men in top form and the Melbourne sun unrelenting, the stage is set for another epic chapter in their growing rivalry. Will the heat, the rules, or the relentless demands of Grand Slam tennis tip the scales? For now, the battle for the Australian Open crown remains wide open, with every match promising fresh drama under the sweltering Australian sky.