Jannik Sinner v Luciano Darderi live: Australian Open latest score updates after ‘lucky’ escape for defending champion

Darderi has to try and extend this as much as possible. Finally, after a series of big forehand blows aimed at Sinner, he finds a way through with another loud grunt.

Darderi comes out swinging, grunting after every ball in a baseline rally. Sinner grinds him down and Darderi nets as the defending champion fends his countryman off.

With Sinner serving as he is, one more break would surely be enough for the win. He presses hard in the fourth game, guiding a backhand past Darderi to set up break point.

But Darderi saves with an ace out wide – and another wide serve on game point means the 22nd seed stays alive.

A 16th ace of the match from Sinner as he finds another routine hold.

Darderi can only laugh as Sinner reads his forehand down the line and redirects back crosscourt for a winner.

Sinner was 17-0 against Italian opposition in tour-level matches before today. Darderi is about to become No 18.

A sorry way for Darderi to lose the set as he double-faults and slumps back to his seat, where the trainer will be waiting.

Sinner is cruising towards a 18th win in a row at the Australian Open and a return to the quarter-finals.

Darderi stretches his arms out wide , asking ‘what can I do?’, as Sinner bombs down another serve.

The 23-year-old puts his frustration into a forehand winner but can’t stop Sinner from moving a game away from the set.

To add to Darderi’s woes, he’s also picked up a bit of a limp. The 23-year-old does manage to hold serve, though, but Greg Allensworth has called the trainer.

Darderi’s antics are quite entertaining and he celebrates winning another game by kneeing a ball away in frustration.

Sinner is ramping up through the levels, though, and puts away a couple of a winners and a lovely inside-out drop shot on his way to taking the game.

Keep this up and Sinner will be back inside and into an ice bath before his possible quarter-final opponents Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud take to court later on.