Jannik Sinner, the world No 1 and defending champion, looked to be heading out of the Australian Open until he was rescued by a controversial medical time-out.

Jannik Sinner is through to the Australian Open quarterfinals after a drama-filled fourth-round win over Holger Rune. World No. 1 Sinner won in four sets, 6-3. 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, but this did not tell the story of a contest defined by injury.

In the Australian Open Round of 16 on Sunday, No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner takes on No. 13 Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune.Sinner enters the Round of 16 after his three-set win on Saturday over Marcos

Defending champion Jannik Sinner has moved into the quarterfinals at the Australian Open after beating Holger Rune during a match slowed down by medical timeouts for each player and a delay because the net got knocked loose.

Sinner was joined in the quarter-finals by countryman Lorenzo Sonego, who is through to this stage at a grand slam for the first time after ending the run of 19-year-old American Learner Tien with a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1 victory.

The screw holding the net in place at the Australian Open’s main stadium has been jarred loose during defending champion Jannik Sinner’s fourth-round match against Holger Rune

Jannik Sinner moved into the Australian Open quarterfinals Monday by eliminating Holger Rune in a match paused by medical timeouts and the net detaching from the court.

A smashed net became an unlikely ally of defending champion Jannik Sinner during a sweltering day's action at the Australian Open. World No 1 Sinner and fourth-round opponent Holger Rune were visibly struggling with the humid conditions on Rod Laver Arena during a match disrupted by medical timeouts for both players on Monday.