Jannik Sinner etched another chapter in his Australian Open love affair, cruising past Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals for the third year running. The Rod Laver Arena crowd watched in awe as the second seed dismantled the American hopeful, extending his venue record to 19 straight wins and fueling dreams of a breakthrough title.
This was no fluke—Sinner now leads Shelton 9-1 in elite clashes, with victories spanning Australia and Wimbledon. His game plan was ruthless: baseline control, backhand pressure, and forehand disruption left Shelton’s power serves ineffective. Sinner’s return game shone early, and he capitalized on the challenger’s mounting errors.
Though Sinner fatigued briefly post-second set, his resilience shone. Shelton’s three lost break chances and a match-shifting double fault paved the way for the decisive third-set break. The 2-hour-25-minute affair ended on Sinner’s terms, underscoring his mental fortitude.
Friday brings Novak Djokovic, the 10-time AO champion eyeing record history. Sinner, a four-time major winner, has beaten him in key semis before. This generational duel could steal the tournament’s spotlight, blending Sinner’s precision with Djokovic’s legendary grit in a must-watch spectacle.