When Jannik Sinner plays at the Australian Open: first time with Luciano Darderi

Jannik Sinner and Luciano Darderi will take the court Monday, Jan. 26, for an all-Italian derby at the Australian Open. The match is scheduled on Margaret Court Arena, the tournament’s second-largest court, with the start set for 8 a.m. Italian time (6 p.m. local time).

Surprisingly, Sinner will not play on the Rod Laver Arena: initially the center court had been assigned to Novak Djokovic, then after Mensik’s forfeit and the former number one’s consequent access to the quarters, the scheduling was changed with Shelton-Ruud being moved. Opening the evening session on Margaret Court Arena will then be Sinner-Darderi.

In the Italian night, however, it will be Lorenzo Musetti’s turn, engaged against Taylor Fritz in a match scheduled on the center court, the Rod Laver Arena, no earlier than 4 a.m.

There is no official precedent between Sinner and Darderi: the one in Melbourne will be the first Italian derby between the two. However, the players know each other well, having also shared some training sessions, most recently in Dubai last December.

If he wins in the round of 16, Sinner would advance to the quarters, where he would face the winner of the match between Ben Shelton and Casper Ruud, scheduled on Rod Laver Arena. Whatever the opponent, the Italian would start with the favorable odds.