Australian Open: Sinner Defeats Shelton, Advances to Face Zverev in Final
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Synopsis
In a thrilling Australian Open semifinal, Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton to reach his third major final. The defending champion showcased his skills on Rod Laver Arena and will face Alexander Zverev after Djokovic's retirement. Sinner aims to solidify his legacy as he seeks his third major title.
Key Takeaways
- Jannik Sinner wins against Ben Shelton.
- Match score: 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2.
- Sinner reaches his third major final.
- Aiming for his third major title.
- Next opponent: Alexander Zverev.
Melbourne, Jan 24 (NationPress) Defending champion Jannik Sinner from Italy triumphed over American Ben Shelton with a score of 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 in a power-packed semifinal match at the Australian Open held on Rod Laver Arena, securing his spot in his third major final on Friday.
This thrilling encounter featured two of the most formidable ball strikers on the ATP tour, yet it was Sinner who exhibited superior control, precision, and resilience to achieve his remarkable 20th consecutive tour-level victory and advance to his third major final, as reported by the ATP.
The two-time major champion Sinner improved his Grand Slam semifinal record to 3-2 with this victory over Shelton, which lasted for two hours and 36 minutes. This win also marked an extension of his winning streak at hard-court Grand Slam tournaments to 20 matches, following his success at the Australian Open and the US Open in 2024.
As he aims to become the first Italian to secure three major titles after Nicola Pietrangeli (who won Roland Garros in 1959 and 1960), Sinner will face Alexander Zverev, who advanced after Novak Djokovic had to retire from their semifinal due to injury, in the men's singles final.
The 23-year-old has now become the youngest male player to reach multiple Australian Open finals since Jim Courier in 1993. The top seed boasts a flawless record in major finals (Australian Open 2024, US Open 2024) and will strive to maintain that perfect record in the final on Sunday.
Sinner was dominant in 2024, claiming a tour-leading eight titles and ascending to the No. 1 ranking in June. He capped off last season with a victory in Shanghai, celebrated a win on home soil at the ATP Finals, and led Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup victories.
