The screw holding the net in place at the Australian Open’s main stadium got jarred loose during defending champion Jannik Sinner’s fourth-round victory against Holger Rune, delaying play for about 20 minutes early in the fourth set.

Jannik Sinner, the world No 1 and defending champion, looked to be heading out of the Australian Open until he was rescued by a controversial medical time-out.

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.