Italians continue strong runs at scorching Australian Open

The extreme heat played havoc with the afternoon matches at the Australian Open on Saturday, causing the temporary suspension of two ATP matches.

Fortunately, three courts at Melbourne Park have retractable roofs, so play at Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena continued.

Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti went the distance against Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic and prevailed 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a match that took 4 hours, 27 minutes. The majority of the contest was played in scorching conditions, but the roof was closed early in the deciding set.

Musetti, who leads the strong Italian contingent in Melbourne, has reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time.

Machac captured the fourth set with an apparent momentum-gaining break of serve. But Musetti responded, breaking his opponent at love to open the deciding set. Machac steadied himself and stayed within 3-2, but the Italian only lost three points in the final three games to advance.

Musetti will face the winner of the match between ninth-seeded Taylor Fritz and the 2014 champion, Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka. Earlier this week, Wawrinka, 40, became the second-oldest man to win a match at the Australian Open.

Musetti's countryman, 22nd-ranked Luciano Darderi, was able to get through his match at Kia Arena and pulled off a minor upset of No. 15 Russian Karen Khachanov. Darderi prevailed 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round of a major championship for the first time in his brief career.

Darderi, who won 27 of his 32 first-service points in the last two sets, will face the winner of the match between two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy and American Eliot Spizzirri.

--Field Level Media