Sinner races on, Keys eats apple pie

Nole gets walkover, heatwave hits city

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Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates after winning his fourth-round match against compatriot Luciano Darderi.

(REUTERS)

Jannik Sinner sent an Australian Open statement in rolling into the quarterfinals yesterday but fellow champion Madison Keys was dethroned as Melbourne braced for forecast 45C heat.

Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti battled stifling conditions to set up a last-eight showdown with Novak Djokovic and six-time major champion Iga Swiatek progressed in rampant fashion.

Two-time defending champion Sinner raced to a 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) victory over fellow Italian and close friend Luciano Darderi.

The second seed plays United States eighth seed Ben Shelton or Norway's 12th-seeded Casper Ruud next.

Djokovic and Sinner are on course for a blockbuster last-four showdown.

Sinner told Margaret Court Arena, where temperatures hovered around 30C in the early evening: “It was difficult to put the match away, happy I closed it in three sets.”

Sinner sent down a bumper 19 aces in the match, and said his hard work had paid off.