Jannik Sinner moved to within one win of successfully defending his Australian Open title on Friday when he overcame American Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 in a heavy-hitting semi-final clash on Rod Laver Arena.
In a match between two of the biggest ball strikers on Tour, it was the Italian who found greater control, accuracy and resilience to record his 20th consecutive tour-level win and advance to his third major final.
The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings saved two set points on Shelton’s serve in the first set to lead. Sinner continued to deal with the American’s heavy power in the second and third sets by defending well out of the corners, while he pressured the 22-year-old with his clean timing to advance after two hours and 35 minutes.
“It was a very tough first set but very crucial,” Sinner said. “I felt he was not serving at his best today. The percentage was not where he would have wanted it at. I think we both returned better than we served. First sets are always very important. It gives you a lot of confidence and there was a lot of tension for both of us. I am very happy with how I handled the situation today.”
Sinner, 23, is the youngest man to reach multiple Australian Open finals since Jim Courier in 1993. The top seed holds a 100 per cent record in major finals (AO 2024, US Open ’24) and will hope to maintain that record against Alexander Zverev, who advanced after Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from their semi-final due to injury.
Shelton was competing in his second major semi-final, having reached that stage at the US Open in 2023. The American played lights-out tennis at times in front of a lively Rod Laver Arena crowd, but was guilty of misfiring on the forehand in big points, letting Sinner off the hook.
Shelton, who now trails Sinner 1-5 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, is up six spots to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings following his run.
Sinner captured his first major at the AO 12 months ago and he has been an almost irresistible force since. Meeting Shelton on Friday night under the lights, Sinner was once again too strong for an opponent. After saving two set points on Shelton’s serve at 6-5 in the first set, the Italian locked in during the tie-break to lead.
The World No. 1 won 93 per cent (14/15) of his first-serve points in the second set and committed just six unforced errors compared to 16 from Shelton, according to Infosys Stats. The top seed then gained the decisive break of the third set on his third break point in a lengthy game at 2-2 and was aggressive throughout the third set to race to the finish line. Shelton made 62 per cent of his first serves and only won 56 per cent (41/73) per cent of his first-serve points, with Sinner reading the delivery and returning with consistent depth.
The Italian raised his arms aloft following his win and was pleased to have advanced in straight sets.
“I had a lot of tension today, some cramps,” said Sinner, who received medical treatment for cramps in the third set. “He was also suffering a little today with his legs, so I tried to move him around and stay more aggessive, which helped a lot. These matches can go very long. Three sets, two hours and 30 minutes is quite a time, so I am happy to finish in three. I am happy to be back in the final and we will see what happens on Sunday.”
Sinner was the man to beat in 2024, winning a Tour-leading eight titles and climbing to No. 1 in June. The 23-year-old ended last year by winning in Shanghai, triumphing on home soil at the Nitto ATP Finals and then guiding Italy to Davis Cup glory for the second successive year. Competing for the first time this season at the Australian Open, Sinner has continued where he left off, dropping just two sets en route to the championship match in Melbourne.
Including a win-streak of 20 matches, Sinner has earned victory in 36 of his past 37 matches. His lone loss came against Carlos Alcaraz in a deciding-set tie-break in the Beijing final in October.