Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has eased past Aussie talent Alexei Popyrin in a charity match at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

The world no.1 troubled Popyrin on his serve throughout the match, creating nine break points to one in the 6-4 7-6 victory.

With Rod Laver Arena around 60 per cent full, fans were made to wait 10 minutes for the match to start as a chair umpire wasn’t initially present.

Following the bizarre delay, Sinner got to work on the Popyrin serve, regularly troubling the Australian’s delivery.

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The Italian had five break points across two Popyrin service games that the Aussie managed to hold, before making the breakthrough in the ninth game.

A Popyrin double fault gave Sinner a 5-4 lead, with the two-time grand slam champion serving the set out.

It looked as if Sinner would cruise to victory in the second set until Popyrin broke the Italy star to go 4-2 up.

Popyrin’s winning of Sinner’s serve was somewhat of a surprise, with the Italian looking comfortable on his delivery up to that point.

However, Sinner displayed his famous mentality to break back while Popyrin was serving for the set at 5-3.

Sinner held his own serve to make it 5-5 and then held another break point on Popyrin’s serve, which the Aussie saved to lead 6-5.

In the tiebreak, an errant forehand from Popyrin gave Sinner the early mini-break, before the Aussie blasted long to be reeling at 1-4.

Sinner then comfortably achieved the desired result in the tiebreak, in what was a comfortable tune up for his Australian Open defence.

The Italian will return to Rod Laver Arena for another charity match on Friday against Stefanos Tsitsipas.

AO Opening Week schedule 2025

All times AEDT

Tuesday, January 7

• Qualifying – All Day
• Players practice session at Rod Laver Arena – All Day
• Jannik Sinner vs. Alexei Popyrin – 4pm
• Red Bull Bassline – 7pm – featuring Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Alexei Popyrin, Kei Nishikori, Alexander Zverev, Matteo Berrettini

Wednesday, January 8

• Qualifying – All Day8
• Players practice session at Rod Laver Arena – All Day
• Qinwen Zheng vs. Elina Svitolina – 5pm
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alex de Minaur – 7pm

Thursday, January 9

• Qualifying – All Day
• Players practice session at Rod Laver Arena – All Day
• AO 1 Point Slam – KIA Arena – 1pm
• Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev – mixed doubles – 5pm
• A Night With Novak – two matches (TBC) – 7pm

Friday, January 10

• Qualifying – All Day
• Players practice session at Rod Laver Arena – All Day
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexei Popyrin – 5pm
• Jannik Sinner vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas – 7pm

Saturday, January 11

• Kids Tennis Day – All Day