Jannik Sinner. (Pic Credit – X)
NEW DELHI: Defending champion Jannik Sinner dashed home hopes on Wednesday with a commanding straight-set victory over Alex de Minaur to secure a spot in the Australian Open semi-finals against Ben Shelton.
The Italian world number one showed no signs of the illness that troubled him in his previous match, storming past the eighth seed 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Sinner’s emphatic win keeps his title defense alive as he eyes a place in Sunday’s final against either 10-time champion Novak Djokovic or second seed Alexander Zverev.
Shelton, the 21st seed, earned his semi-final berth by overcoming Italy’s unseeded Lorenzo Sonego in a hard-fought battle, winning 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4). The American, making his first Australian Open last-four appearance, now faces Sinner for a chance at the title.
The outcome seemed inevitable for De Minaur, who had lost all nine of his previous encounters with Sinner. The Italian also boasts an impeccable record against Australian players, with 20 consecutive wins.
There were doubts about Sinner’s fitness after he struggled with illness in his last-16 match, where he admitted feeling dizzy in the sweltering heat. However, the cooler conditions of the quarter-final saw him in peak form, moving effortlessly and showing no signs of discomfort.
Roared on by a partisan home crowd, De Minaur initially held his own, but Sinner seized control with a decisive break for a 3-1 lead after an intense 24-shot rally. From there, Sinner’s powerful baseline game and precise ball-striking left the Australian scrambling. De Minaur managed just four winners in the opening set as Sinner dictated play.
The second set followed a similar script, with Sinner immediately breaking serve and dominating the exchanges. A stunning forehand winner earned him another break as he raced through the set in just 40 minutes, leaving De Minaur visibly frustrated.
Despite his best efforts, De Minaur had no answers in the third set. A string of unforced errors saw him broken twice, with Sinner cruising to a 3-0 lead before wrapping up the match.
Sinner, who defeated Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final, is aiming to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam titles. He also claimed the US Open crown in 2023 and is now bidding to defend a major title for the first time.
Awaiting Sinner in Friday’s semi-final is 22-year-old Shelton, who has rapidly established himself as a rising star. The American reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open in 2023, where he was stopped by Djokovic.
Against Sonego, Shelton relied on his booming serve, including a 232kph (144mph) ace—the fastest of the tournament. After taking the first two sets, Shelton endured a wobble in the third but regrouped to win a tense fourth-set tiebreak.
Reflecting on his win, Shelton was unfazed about his next opponent. “If it’s the home favorite Alex de Minaur, you can boo me, throw stuff at me. I get it,” Shelton joked with the crowd. “If it’s the world number one, probably the same thing. But I’ve got a few fans here too.”
Shelton, visibly relieved, also praised Sonego’s performance. “Shout out to Lorenzo Sonego—that was some ridiculous tennis,” he said with a smile.
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