Jannik Sinner defeated Holger Rune in four sets at the Australian Open after experiencing a health scare during the match.

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 illness.

The defending champion moved into the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park on Monday by eliminating the 13th-seeded Rune 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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 victory over 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.

First came the medical timeouts, one each for Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune with the temperature above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) at the Australian Open. Then came the bizarre sight of a 20-minute delay because the net at Rod Laver Arena detached from the court after being hit by a big Sinner serve.

Jannik Sinner has kept his Australian Open title defence on track with a hard-fought victory over Denamrk's Holger Rune.