Sinner Cruises Past Duckworth As Grand Slam Streak Continues

Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending Australian Open champion, wasted no time on January 22, 2026, in demonstrating why he’s the man to beat at Melbourne Park. The world No. 2 swept aside local favorite James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 in just one hour and 49 minutes at Rod Laver Arena, powering into the third round and keeping his quest for a third consecutive title very much alive.

Sinner’s clinical demolition of Duckworth was as emphatic as it gets. The Italian’s relentless baseline game, combined with his trademark composure, left the Australian with few answers. After the match, Sinner acknowledged the crowd’s support for the home player, saying, “I’m very happy about my performance. I know he had so many surgeries, so it’s great to see him competing at the highest level.” He added thanks to the Australian fans for going easy on him, despite putting out one of their own, and concluded, “my body feels good and the mind does too.” That’s an ominous warning for the rest of the field, especially with Carlos Alcaraz lurking in the draw.

Speaking of Alcaraz, the Spaniard and Sinner have utterly dominated the men’s game since September 2023. Between them, they’ve captured the last eight Grand Slam titles—a streak that could stretch to nine if either wins this year’s Australian Open. Alcaraz, currently the world No. 1, has triumphed at Roland Garros twice (2024), Wimbledon (2024), and the US Open (2025). Sinner, meanwhile, has claimed back-to-back Australian Open crowns (2024, 2025), the US Open (2024), and Wimbledon (2025). The last three major finals? All Sinner versus Alcaraz. If one of them lifts the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup this fortnight, they’ll have matched a feat last achieved by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic from 2018 to 2020: nine consecutive majors shared between two players.

For Sinner, the next challenge comes in the form of American Eliot Spizzirri, ranked 85th in the world. Spizzirri, known for his big serve and aggressive play, will need to produce the match of his life to halt Sinner’s march. Should Sinner prevail, he’ll move one step closer to a Melbourne Park hat-trick—a rare accomplishment in the Open Era.

But Sinner wasn’t the only headline act on day five. Novak Djokovic, the ten-time Australian Open champion, also breezed into the third round, dispatching Italian qualifier Francesco Maestrelli 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Djokovic’s focus remains on a record 25th Grand Slam title, and his next opponent is the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp. Djokovic, ever the character, shared a quirky detail about his Melbourne rituals: “That is my oldest friend here in Melbourne,” he said, referring to a Brazilian fig tree he visits in the city’s botanical gardens. “He has been there to heal my wounds and give me company. We have a friendship going over 20 years.”

Elsewhere, the story of the day belonged to Stan Wawrinka. The 40-year-old Swiss warhorse, playing as a wildcard, became the first player aged 40 or over to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Ken Rosewall in 1978. Wawrinka battled for four hours and 33 minutes to overcome French qualifier Arthur Gea in a five-set epic: 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/3). “Exhausted. I am trying to last as long as possible on my last Australian Open,” Wawrinka admitted after the match. When asked about his plans for the evening, he quipped, “I might pick up a beer, I deserve one.” The Swiss veteran’s reward? A third-round clash with American ninth seed Taylor Fritz.

The men’s draw also saw comfortable wins for Marin Cilic, who ousted Denis Shapovalov in straight sets, and fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti, who dispatched compatriot Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. American eighth seed Ben Shelton continued his impressive form, rolling past Australia’s Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Meanwhile, 12th seed Casper Ruud advanced with a straight-sets victory over Spain’s Jaume Munar, setting up a tasty third-round encounter with Cilic.

On the women’s side, defending champion Madison Keys had to dig deep in her 6-1, 7-5 win over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger. Keys, who stunned Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, looked to be cruising after a 23-minute first set but had to rally from 2-5 down in the second. She now faces seasoned Czech Karolina Pliskova in the next round. “I was a bundle of nerves and too timid in my first-round win,” Keys admitted earlier in the tournament, but her aggressive play in key moments suggests she’s finding her groove.

Other notable women’s winners included world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who swept past Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-3. Swiatek, a six-time major champion, has never lifted the trophy in Melbourne but looked sharp and focused. Fourth seed Elena Rybakina advanced with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Varvara Gracheva, while 19-year-old Czech qualifier Nikola Bartunkova stunned 10th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 in a dramatic upset.

Two-time former champion Naomi Osaka, ever the showstopper, edged past Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in a match that ended with some heated words at the net. “She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open. So sorry she was mad about it,” Osaka said, reflecting on the tension. The Japanese star, who made headlines with her jellyfish-inspired outfit in the first round, continues to draw attention both for her tennis and her bold fashion choices.

Meanwhile, the men’s doubles saw local favorites Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis bow out in a tight three-setter to fellow Australians Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans, much to the disappointment of the lively Kia Arena crowd.

Jannik Sinner’s on-court dominance isn’t the only thing sparking conversation in Melbourne. His NikeCourt outfit choices—a muddy olive green for night matches and a bright lemon yellow for daytime—have divided opinion on social media. While some fans appreciate the boldness, others, including The Daily Mail, have called his look “the worst in the history of tennis.” Sinner, for his part, seems unfazed by the chatter, letting his tennis do the talking.

As day five wrapped up, the narrative remains clear: Sinner and Alcaraz are the men to beat, with Djokovic lurking as always. The women’s draw is wide open, with Keys, Swiatek, Osaka, and Rybakina all in the mix. And with legends like Wawrinka still defying age, Melbourne Park continues to deliver drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments. The Australian Open’s third round promises even more fireworks as the world’s best chase tennis glory under the Melbourne sun.