Meanwhile another much-loved veteran, Marin Cilic, is now two sets to the good against the 21st seed Denis Shapovalov, leading 6-4, 6-3.
Wawrinka nudges 4-3 ahead on serve in the fourth set, a set he must win if his Australian Open career is to continue, because this is the 40-year-old’s final trip to Melbourne and he’s trailing the French qualifier Arthur Gea by two sets to one.
I should also mention Maddison Inglis’s three-set victory. The home qualifier – Australia’s last woman standing in the singles – defeated the experienced German Laura Siegemund and awaits the winner of Osaka v Sorana Cirstea. They’re due on Margaret Court Arena in about five minutes’ time, while Sinner and Duckworth will soon make their entrance on Rod Laver.
Inspired qualifier Maddison Inglis has ridden an emotional rollercoaster in her first grand slam appearance in four years to book a spot in the Australian Open third round.
Inglis has joined big gun Alex de Minaur in the round of 32 after defeating German veteran Laura Siegemund 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-7) in a tense, gruelling and sometimes fiery match that lasted three hours and 20 minutes on ANZ Arena.
