Sinner advances to Australian Open quarters; Keys exits early

Jannik Sinner has secured a place in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open in his campaign to defend his title, hours after women’s defending champion Madison Keys was knocked out by Jessica Pegula.

The Italian beat compatriot Luciano Darderi in three sets on Monday to book a place in the last eight.

Keys, who won her first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park last year, had no such luck against her compatriot, close friend and podcast partner Pegula, who won 6-3, 6-4.

Pegula finds herself in another all-American match, this time against the powerful Amanda Anisimova, who dispatched China’s Wang Xinyu 7-6 (4), 6-4 on a hot afternoon.

Their fourth-round wins on Day 9 meant four Americans have reached the women’s singles quarterfinals in Australia for the first time since 2001 when Serena and Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport made it to the last eight.

Pegula and Anisimova advanced a day after world number three Coco Gauff and 18-year-old Iva Jovic earned their places on the other side of the draw.

Meanwhile, six-time major champion Iga Swiatek ended the fairytale run of qualifier Maddison Inglis to set up a quarterfinal with fifth-seeded Elena Rybakina.

The Polish second seed, who is chasing a maiden Melbourne title, was in a different class than the Australian, who suffered a 6-0, 6-3 demolition job on Rod Laver Arena.

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It brought to a close the “life-changing” run of Inglis, who was thrust into the prime-time contest when Naomi Osaka withdrew from their third-round match with an injury.

But, as expected, her tournament went no further as Swiatek was on a mission.