Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton in the last four, Madison Keys will challenge Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals

The days go by and are similar at the Australian Open for the Polish Iga Swiatek. The world number two once again showed herself quickly, Wednesday January 22 in Melbourne, and booked her ticket for the semi-finals. In the men's draw, the defending champion, Jannik Sinner, did not go into detail against the “local” Alex de Minaur and Ben Shelton enforced the hierarchy against the experienced Lorenzo Sonego, in the quarter-finals.

Iga Swiatek, still without losing a set

It was a great first for Iga Swiatek and Emma Navarro: never before had the two players faced each other on the WTA circuit. It was the Polish woman who emerged victorious from this duel against the American (8^e): 6-1, 6-2. She has still not conceded a single set since the start of the tournament. The world number two flew through the first round in thirty-five minutes thanks to three breaks. The debates were more balanced in the second, the New Yorker even obtaining a break point at 2-2, dismissed by her opponent.

“It was a lot harder than the score suggestscommented the Pole after this quarter-final. Emma is a fighter. I'm happy to have won these close games, that's what made the difference. » Quadruple winner of Roland-Garros and also titled at the US Open in 2022, Iga Swiatek, 23, had already reached the semi-finals in Melbourne in 2022.

Ultra-dominant Jannik Sinner vs. Alex de Minaur

Jannik Sinner, defending champion, did not let the “local” Alex de Minaur exist in front of his audience (6-3, 6-2, 6-1). Since their first clash in 2019, the Australian has never found the key to beating the Italian and for good reason: the 8^e world does not have the power to overtake the world number one. Wednesday, in the night session, Sinner once again imposed his rhythm despite the fierce defense of his opponent, which earned him the nickname « Demon ». The Italian won the first set on his first opportunity, with an ace at the T, making an almost perfect copy (72% of first balls, 83% of points won behind them and no break points conceded). Helpless despite all his will, De Minaur was overtaken in the second set.

The bill was even heavier in the last round, dispatched 6-1 in thirty minutes by the world number one. After showing some signs of excitement against Holger Rune in the round of 16, Sinner once again made a showing and joined the American Ben Shelton in the semi-finals, whom he beat four times in five confrontations.

Ben Shelton dismisses Lorenzo Sonego

Faller of Gaël Monfils in the previous round, Ben Shelton (22 years old, seed number 21) dismissed in four sets (6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 [7/4]) the Italian Lorenzo Sonego (55^e), who had previously eliminated the two revelations of the tournament, the American Learner Tien (19 years old) and the Brazilian Joao Fonseca (18 years old). The hierarchy was respected after a fight lasting almost four hours. After the US Open in 2023, this is the second time that the American has reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.

At the start of the match, the Atlanta native, dominant in serving, showed his power. After two one-sided rounds, his opponent had the opportunities to turn the match around. The Italian brought the Rod Laver Arena crowd to its feet with some exceptional shots, including a winning over-the-shoulder defense shot while stepping back on a Shelton lob early in the fourth set. But a few gross errors, notably in the decisive tie-break, sealed the fate of the match.

Ben Shelton will face the winner of the match between defending champion Jannik Sinner (1^is) and the Australian Alex De Minaur (8^e).

Madison Keys had to fight

At 29, the American Madison Keys (14^e) reached, for the third time in his career after 2015 and 2022, the final four in Melbourne. She beat the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (27^e) in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-4).

Madison Keys took time to find her rhythm in this quarter-final, missing two break points in the first set, while the Ukrainian hit the mark on her first opportunity to win the set 6-3, under the eyes of her husband, Gaël Monfils.

After losing the first set, “I felt like I had to play a little more aggressively. She controlled a lot of points and made me run.”noted the Illinois player after her victory. “Luckily, I managed it. I think I'm playing a little smarter.” than in the past, she concluded. US Open finalist in 2017, Madison Keys, who has 12 victories in 2025 – the highest total on the women's circuit – will face world number two, Iga Swiatek, in the semi-finals.