Jannik Sinner stormed into the Australian Open semi-finals with a commanding straight-sets victory over Ben Shelton on Wednesday, setting up a blockbuster clash with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.
The Italian second seed, known for his physical strength and relentless baseline game, dismantled the American eighth seed 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena, dropping only one set en route to his sixth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final.
“We go day by day, today I felt I was moving again a little bit better, I feel physically stronger again,” Sinner said after his win. “We all know what challenge I am up to,” he added, referring to facing the 38-year-old Djokovic. “These are the moments you practise for and wake up for in the morning. It improves you as a player and a person. We are lucky to have Novak still here playing incredible tennis for his age.”
Sinner’s dominance over Shelton has been consistent, having won eight of their nine previous encounters in straight sets. The left-handed Shelton, 23, has managed to best Sinner only once — during their first meeting in 2023. Sinner also claimed victory against Shelton in last year’s Melbourne semi-final.
On a cool evening in Melbourne, Sinner quickly established control, racing to a 4-1 lead in the first set and keeping Shelton scrambling across the court. An ace sealed the opening set in just 49 minutes, and Sinner maintained his composure despite Shelton’s attempts to challenge him with aggressive play.
In the third set, the American briefly fed off the crowd’s energy but ultimately faltered under pressure, committing his 33rd unforced error and double-faulting at a crucial juncture to hand Sinner a 5-4 lead, signalling the end was near.
Sinner will now face Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, in what promises to be one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches. Djokovic secured his semi-final spot when Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury, keeping alive his quest for another Grand Slam title.
Meanwhile, the other semi-final will feature world number one Carlos Alcaraz against third-ranked Alexander Zverev, setting up a thrilling final weekend at Melbourne Park.
