Cahill Breaks Silence on Sinner’s Heat-Affected Australian Open Escape
MELBOURNE, 28 January 2026 – The coach of world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, Australian Darren Cahill, has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding his charge’s dramatic third-round victory at the Australian Open, labelling the timing of a crucial roof closure as “lucky” but firmly denying any improper influence over tournament scheduling.
The Crucible on Rod Laver Arena
The furore stems from Sinner’s gruelling match against American Eliot Spizzirri last Saturday, played during a severe Melbourne heatwave where on-court temperatures soared past 40°C. The two-time defending champion began to suffer full-body cramps early in the third set, his movement becoming visibly laboured. Just after Spizzirri broke serve to lead 3-1, chair umpire Fergus Murphy suspended play, invoking the tournament’s Extreme Heat Policy to close the retractable roof on Rod Laver Arena.
The eight-minute pause, followed by a 10-minute cooling break between sets, proved pivotal. Sinner returned to win five of the next six games, eventually securing a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory. He later admitted he “got lucky with the heat rule.” The timing, however, sparked immediate accusations on social media of favourable treatment, with footage circulating of Cahill speaking to tournament director Craig Tiley in the corridors during the suspension.
“Everyone Knew the Roof Was Going to Close”
Facing the criticism, Cahill broke his silence. “It’s obvious Jannik got very lucky with the timing, but we all knew that at some point, play would be stopped to close the roof,” the respected coach stated. He emphasised that the closure was triggered automatically when the official heat stress scale reached its threshold, a fact known to all teams.
Cahill heaped praise on Sinner’s resolve, revealing the Italian’s physical struggle continued even after the respite. “When he came back on the court, he still had cramps all over his body. Despite that, he managed to see the match through to the end. What he did that day is one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen him deliver.”
Denials and Doubts Over Scheduling
The controversy extended to Sinner’s subsequent match. Cahill revealed tournament organisers had offered Sinner the option to play his fourth-round clash against Luciano Darderi on the premier Rod Laver Arena, but the player declined, content with his scheduled slot on Margaret Court Arena.
Furthermore, Cahill explicitly denied requesting an evening session to avoid the daytime heat for the Darderi match. “We did not request a night session,” he told reporters. “The night session was offered to Jannik, but we had no problem sticking to the schedule.”
This claim was met with public scepticism from Jamie Murray, the former doubles world No. 1 and brother of Andy. Speaking to TNT Sports, Murray said, “I don’t buy it. It’s impossible, after what he went through in his last match, that they didn’t request the latest possible slot… I just can’t believe that after what he endured, they did nothing to influence the scheduling.”
Key Facts: The Sinner Controversy
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | Australian Open 3rd Round: Jannik Sinner vs Eliot Spizzirri |
| Date | Saturday, 24 January 2026 (Day 7) |
| Peak Temperature | Over 40°C in Melbourne; on-court conditions more extreme. |
| Critical Moment | Play suspended at 1-2* in the 3rd set to close roof under Extreme Heat Policy. |
| Outcome | Sinner won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. He later beat Luciano Darderi to reach quarterfinals. |
| Core Allegation | Timing of roof closure unfairly benefited the struggling defending champion. |
| Coach’s Defence | Darren Cahill states the rule was applied objectively; praises Sinner’s grit. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Australian Open Extreme Heat Policy?
The policy uses a heat stress scale (WBGT index) that measures temperature, humidity, wind speed, and radiant heat. When the scale reaches 5.0, the tournament referee can suspend play on outside courts and order the closure of retractable roofs on show courts. Players are also entitled to a 10-minute cooling break between the second and third sets of a match.
Did Jannik Sinner’s team ask for special treatment?
Coach Darren Cahill has categorically denied this. He stated his team did not request a change of court or a night session for Sinner’s following match, despite being offered the option to move to Rod Laver Arena. This denial has been questioned publicly by other figures in tennis, like Jamie Murray.
How did Sinner perform after the controversial match?
The Italian recovered to produce a commanding performance in the fourth round, defeating compatriot Luciano Darderi in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, 7-6(2), to advance to the quarterfinals where he is scheduled to face American Ben Shelton.