Australian Open 2026: Jannik Sinner storms past local wildcard James Duckworth into round three

Jannik Sinner hardly broke a sweat on Rod Laver Arena, where he booked his spot in the third round of the 2026 Australian Open.

The double defending champion needed just one hour, 49 minutes to beat wildcard James Duckworth 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday (22 January). World No. 2 Sinner will take on unseeded USA player Eliot Spizzirri in round three.

“I tried to stay very aggressive, trying to stick with my game plan today,” the Italian said in his post-match press conference in Melbourne. “It was important to also stay close to the line. It was a good performance from my side. He’s a very tough opponent to play against, so I’m very happy.”

Sinner secured a 16th consecutive victory at Melbourne Park thanks to a service masterclass. The 24-year-old hit 18 aces and won 86 per cent of first serve points, while conceding no break points in a formidable performance.

“I still feel like the service is something [that] I need to work on, improve on," he added. "Some days like today I serve well, then there are days where I struggle a bit more. But it’s part of the process I’m in and I’m aiming for, trying to serve always better.”

Despite defeat, Duckworth’s presence on Rod Laver Arena deserved plaudits. The 34-year-old overcame nine major surgeries to make the second round of his home Slam for the first time in five years, receiving a warm ovation upon leaving the court.

AO 2026: Stan Wawrinka comes through four-and-a-half-hour battle to reach third round of his last Australian Open

2026 Australian Open – Sinner shows strong form early on in Melbourne

Sat 86 places apart in the ATP rankings, Sinner also held the advantage of having spent far less time on-court in the tournament. His first round opponent, Hugo Gaston, retired after two sets, while Duckworth had to battle through five sets to reach the same stage.

The Italian No. 2 seed advances with less than three hours total playing time, something that will set him up nicely for the second week at Melbourne Park.

Sinner never seemed uneased by the cooler conditions in Thursday’s evening session. The 24-year-old brought the heat himself with a performance that the tennis world has become accustomed to this decade.

“I feel like I’m in good shape at the moment, depending on how matches go and how long I stay on court in official matches,” Sinner said on court after the match. “But of course I’m very happy. I know how much work we put in.

“The body feels good. The mind is in a good moment. The first tournament is always very, very special for all of us. There’s no better place to start a season.”

Next up for Sinner is a first professional meeting with Spizzirri, who is just 129 days younger. Should the four-time major champion prevail, he will face a first seed of the tournament, either Olympic silver medallist Karen Khachanov or compatriot Luciano Darderi.

Click here to read article