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Australian Open Sizzles Under Extreme Heat as Djokovic Hits 400 Wins and Osaka Withdraws

Organisers enacted the top heat-policy level to keep matches safe during the hottest stretch.

Overview

  • The tournament activated its extreme heat policy at level five, suspending play for hours on outside courts, closing the roofs on showcourts and moving start times earlier as temperatures neared 40°C.
  • Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame full-body cramping and turned his match around once the roof closed, defeating Eliot Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last 16 against Luciano Darderi.
  • Novak Djokovic beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to advance to the fourth round and became the first player to log 400 Grand Slam match wins while pursuing a record 25th major.
  • Naomi Osaka withdrew before her third-round match citing injury, giving Maddison Inglis a walkover; Iga Swiatek edged Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 and will face Inglis next.
  • Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula advanced with straight-sets wins to set up an all-American fourth-round meeting, as Amanda Anisimova also progressed on a day reshaped by the heat policy.