Sinner and Duckworth Set for Explosive Australian Open Rematch
The Australian Open second round promises fireworks as world number two Jannik Sinner faces local hope James Duckworth in a match steeped in personal history. Their previous encounter in 2021 left simmering tensions that could boil over on the Melbourne Park courts this Wednesday.
A Heated History Resurfaces
Back in 2021 at an ATP Masters event in Canada, Sydney-raised Duckworth secured a straight-sets victory over the Italian star. The match became particularly fiery when Duckworth's enthusiastic celebration after winning a crucial point visibly irritated Sinner. The Italian's frustration boiled over, with Sinner reportedly shouting 'cazzo urli' across the net – a phrase that roughly translates to 'why the f**k are you screaming?'
Duckworth acknowledges this history and understands he must find ways to unsettle the tournament favourite once again. 'It will be tough,' the 33-year-old Australian admitted after his gruelling five-set first-round victory against Croatia's Dino Prizmic. 'He [Sinner] is obviously playing pretty well and he's pretty good in Australia, but if I come out and play aggressive, I can cause him some problems.'
Contrasting Paths to the Second Round
The two players arrive at this clash with dramatically different preparations. Duckworth endured an epic five-set battle that lasted nearly four hours, while Sinner enjoyed a comparatively straightforward passage when his opponent Hugo Gaston retired hurt after just 68 minutes, with Sinner leading 6-2, 6-1.
'I'd probably say it is an advantage for him, but that's just the way it is,' Duckworth conceded regarding Sinner's fresh legs. 'I'm just going to try and get my body in as best shape as possible and give it a red-hot crack.'
Duckworth's Family Legacy and Personal Motivation
The Australian veteran carries more than just personal pride into this match. He draws inspiration from his late grandmother Beryl Penrose, who won both the women's singles and doubles titles at the 1955 Australian Open. When asked how an upset victory over Sinner would compare to his grandmother's achievements, Duckworth responded: 'Probably not as good as hers - she won it - but it would be awesome and I'll give it my best.'
Currently ranked 88th in the world, Duckworth recognises this opportunity represents everything he trains for. 'It's what you put in all the hours on the practice court and in the gym for,' he explained. 'It's why you play tennis, to be in these situations, so it's really cool.'
Court Preference and Tournament History
In a lighter moment, Duckworth joked about his preferred venue for the showdown. After beating Prizmic on the intimate and raucous Court 6, he expressed a desire to face Sinner there rather than on the imposing Rod Laver Arena. 'I'll definitely tell (AO tournament director) Craig (Tiley) that, but he'll tell me where I can stick that idea,' he laughed.
This marks Duckworth's 17th Australian Open appearance and his 13th in the main draw. Despite reaching the second round on six previous occasions, he has never progressed to the round of 32 in men's singles. The veteran is also competing in doubles alongside young Australian talent Cruz Hewitt.
As Wednesday's match approaches, Duckworth remains focused on the challenge ahead. 'I know it was a couple of years ago, but I beat him once before,' he noted, drawing confidence from their previous encounter. 'It'll be a great challenge. I'm looking forward to it, I'll prepare as well as I can and see how I go.'
With Sinner seeking to assert his dominance and Duckworth aiming to channel both past success and family legacy, this Australian Open second-round clash promises compelling drama beyond mere tennis skills.
