Taylor Fritz Reveals How the Locker Room Responded to Jannik Sinner’s Cramping Situation at the Australian Open
Jannik Sinner dropped his first set of the tournament against Eliot Spizzirri.
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Jannik Sinner and Taylor Fritz (via ATP Tour)
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Tennis can be a brutal, lonely sport. Nowhere is that more obvious than the concrete ovens of Melbourne Park during the Australian Open. But while the cameras were fixed on a cramping Jannik Sinner struggling to stay upright, a different kind of drama was unfolding backstage. Taylor Fritz, watching from the sanctuary of the locker room, has pulled back the curtain on how the world’s best players reacted to seeing the World No. 2 nearly crash out of the tournament.
The match between Italy’s Sinner and American underdog Eliot Spizzirri wasn’t supposed to be a thriller. It was the third round of the 2026 Australian Open, and Sinner was the heavy favorite. But the Australian summer doesn’t care about rankings. Fritz said in his post-match press conference:
Yeah, for sure. When it’s happening, like, people are obviously gathered around the TV watching, because they want to see what happens. But I think that happens any time, like, an upset is brewing or someone is in trouble or it’s like a big tiebreak or something. Everyone kind of gathers around and wants to see what’s going on.
The reaction wasn’t just shock; it was a mix of empathy and professional concern. Every player in that room knows that the line between a win and a medical retirement is razor-thin when the heat rule is in effect. Fritz indicated that the mood was heavy. They weren’t just watching a match; they were watching a colleague suffer through one of an athlete’s worst nightmares.
The players’ conversation, as hinted at by Fritz, likely revolved around the rules. Was Sinner going to retire? Should he? And the biggest question of all: was the tournament doing enough to protect them?
The moment Jannik Sinner hit the wall
It started in the early sets. The temperature was soaring, and the humidity was oppressive. Jannik Sinner, usually a machine of endurance, began to falter. By the time the match hit the mid-point, it wasn’t just fatigue; it was full-body rebellion.
Sinner was trailing Spizzirri 4-6, 6-3, 1-3. His movement was gone. His face was a mask of pain. To everyone watching in the stands, it looked like the end of the road. But for Taylor Fritz and the other pros watching on the internal feeds, the tension was palpable. They know that specific look of panic when your legs stop listening to your brain.
Just as Sinner looked like he was about to shake hands and quit, the tournament referee made the call: the heat stress scale had breached the limit. The roof over Rod Laver Arena was ordered to close.
This was the turning point. The break in play allowed Sinner to cool down, get fluids in, and reset his nervous system. The conditions inside changed instantly from sweltering outdoor heat to climate-controlled indoor comfort.
What’s next for Jannik Sinner?
Jannik Sinner survived. He advanced deeper into the tournament, keeping his hopes of defending his title alive. But the physical toll of that cramping episode doesn’t just vanish. Recovery becomes the priority now.
Sinner will face fellow Italian Luciano Darderi, who is the lowest seed left in the draw. Although the match looks easy on paper, questions might arise if it is scheduled in the day session.
As for Fritz, he took down 2014 Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka in four sets. He will also face an Italian, Lorenzo Musetti, who seems to be creating a habit of advancing in the second week of Grand Slams constantly.
Sinner and Fritz cannot meet until the semifinals. However, Fritz might have a big mountain to climb just to get there, because he will likely run into Novak Djokovic, whom he keeps losing to.
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