World no. 1 Jannik Sinner is a win away from the Australian Open title defense! The two-time Major champion faced the American Ben Shelton in the semi-final and scored a solid 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph in two hours and 36 minutes.
Thus, the 23-year-old scored his 20th straight hard-court Major win and advanced into the third final from the previous five Majors. Jannik denied two set points in a tight opening set and controlled the pace in the following two.
The Italian experienced cramps in the third set, overcoming more serious issues and sealing the deal in style. Jannik will face world no. 2 Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final, seeking his third Major crown at 23!
A little bit of everything for everyone out of this point!
Incredible tennis from @benshelton and Jannik Sinner, but it’s the American who wins the point!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/fPUEqtubu5
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
Sinner collected 29 points more than his opponent thanks to sets two and three. He outplayed his rival behind the first and second serve and landed 23 winners and 26 unforced errors. Ben competed in his second Major semi-final.
He hit six double faults and finished the duel on a 27-55 ratio, spraying too many errors after the opener. World no. 1 played against seven break points and got broken two times. He stole 42% of the return points and turned them into six breaks from 13 opportunities.
Ben Shelton & Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The favorite built the advantage in the mid-range and most extended rallies. However, he forged the most significant buffer in the shortest range up to four strokes, besting Shelton 70-50! The American made a flying start and created a break chance in the first game of the match.
Ben cracked a forehand down the line winner to embrace an early advantage. A left-hander missed a forehand in the second game and faced a break point. He saved it with a booming serve and brought the game home for a hold and a 2-0 advantage.
Jannik held at love in game three and targeted the rival’s backhand in the next one to pull the break back and level the score at 2-2. Shelton struggled again behind the initial shot in the sixth game. The 21st seed defended them with fine hitting and held to level the score at 3-3.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
They served well in the next four games, and the American locked the result at 5-5 with a hold at love. Sinner lost the ground in the 11th game and netted a forehand to offer his rival two break points. A left-hander drew an error from world no. 1 to secure a break and open a 6-5 gap.
Ben served for the opener at 6-5 and generated two set points. He squandered them, and it would cost him dearly. Jannik converted the second break chance and delivered a crucial break that introduced a tie break.
The Italian gained a boost and won all points on serve. He welcomed the rival’s forehand mistakes and moved 3-0 in front. World no. 1 landed a service winner for 5-0 and mirrored that in the eighth point for 6-2 and four set points.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
Sinner converted the first after Shelton’s loose forehand, stealing the opener in 71 minutes and gathering confidence. Ben squandered game points at the beginning of the second set and experienced a costly break after Jannik’s backhand down the line winner.
The American missed a routine forehand on a break point in game two and fell 2-0 behind. The 21st seed sent another forehand wide in the third game, losing serve for the third straight time and propelling world no. 1 3-0 in front.
Shelton served to stay in the set at 1-5 and saved a set point. However, Sinner landed an ace down the T line at 5-2, holding at love and moving two sets to love in front after an hour and 54 minutes.
Jannik Sinner & Ben Shelton, Australian Open 2025© Stream screenshot
The Italian saved a break point in the second game of the third set with a service winner. Not playing at his best due to cramps, Jannik offered Ben two more break chances in the fourth game. World no. 1 saved them with winners and leveled the score at 2-2.
The American missed his chances and suffered a break in game five after a forehand error, throwing his racquet and saying goodbye to his title clash chances. Sinner painted a backhand down the line winner in the sixth game for a hold at love and 4-2.
Shelton hit a double fault in the seventh game, losing serve at love and sending world no. 1 closer to the finish line. Jannik served for the win at 5-2 and held at 30 with a service winner, extending his Australian Open streak and moving into the title clash.
Tennis World USA