The tennis courts are buzzing with anticipation as Week 2 of the Australian Open heats up, but not without its twists and turns! As we approach the tournament’s nail-biting quarterfinals, all eyes are on World No. 1 Jannik Sinner—and not just because of his blistering form. Rumors are swirling that the Italian star is battling a serious illness ahead of his high-stakes clash. For fans, the question looming large is whether Sinner will be fit enough to step onto the court on Wednesday.

The Italian tennis sensation is all set to face Aussie star Alex de Minaur on Wednesday and will look to seal his spot in the semi-finals. But a major health threat seems to be looming large for the Sinner right before his match. As per some unconfirmed reports, the Italian dynamo is battling with some serious illness ahead of his match, per The First Serve. And if true, the situation can turn out to be advantageous for de Minaur.

Remember, Sinner was visibly struggling during his match against Holger Rune on Monday which he eventually won in four sets. He was seen shaking during the match and also left the court after the fifth point of the third set for a lengthy medical timeout. When quizzed about the same during his post-match interview, Sinner refused to give much detail but admitted that he was facing struggles.

“I was not feeling really well,” the Italian shared. Continuing further, Sinner also revealed that the entire scenario was quite troublesome for him. “I talked with the doctor before going on the court. I had a little checkup. It was a bit helpful. I at least felt slightly better when I went back on court. I felt like the face looked a little bit better, the colour was a little bit back.”

Now, if reports about his latest health struggle turn out to be true, it can turn positive for de Minaur who has never defeated Sinner in their nine encounters. However, Sinner or his team has yet to issue any official statement about the entire matter. This, however, is not the first time when the defending Australian Open champion has faced such a scenario ahead of an important event. 

The 23-year-old witnessed unexpected situations and was forced to withdraw from the Paris Olympics last year, owing to his diagnosis of tonsillitis. Announcing his decision to skip the glorious event, he had shared, “It was one of my main goals for this season to compete in the Olympics. Unfortunately, the tonsillitis forced me to miss it. I am deeply disappointed but will support my fellow athletes from home.” And now, the threat is looming large ahead of yet another crucial match. But one thing is certain: if Sinner manages to play on Wednesday, he will pose a tough challenge in front of the home favorite who has also admitted the Italian star’s dominance.

Alex de Minaur is all praises for Jannik Sinner ahead of semi-final clash

Jannik Sinner has dominated the courts quite comfortably in recent times. Last year, he clinched eight titles including two Grand Slams and the WTA Finals in Turin, besides winning 73 of the 81 matches that he played throughout the season. And it is for this reason that his dominance is admitted even by his opponents, with Alex de Minaur being the latest to sing praises for him.

Speaking about Sinner ahead of their match, de Minaur said, “Ultimately Jannik is a hell of a player,” adding, “It’s not really about being a bad matchup, it’s that he’s a pretty good player, right? So he’s a bad matchup for a lot of players out there on tour.” Continuing further, he shared that he will have to focus on their current match and forget about their past nine encounters, all of which have not ended on a positive note for the Aussie player. 

“You’ve got to play the match on face value and forget about everything that’s happened in the past,” de Minaur added. Now, with reports of Sinner’s illness making round, it will be crucial to see if de Minaur can turn the tables on his home turf and pull out a victory against the star player. Or will the World No. 1 prove his mettle?