Ben Shelton on Jannik Sinner defeat: ‘Sometimes you miss your window’ | ATP Tour

Match Reaction

Shelton on Sinner defeat: ‘Sometimes you miss your window’

Shelton reached second major semi-final at AO

January 24, 2025

Ben Shelton had the first set of his Australian Open semi-final clash against Jannik Sinner on his own racquet.

Serving at 6-5 on Friday night in Melbourne, the American had two set points to lead, but was unable to convert, with Sinner rallying to break back. The Italian went on to win the tie-break and then closed out the match in straight sets.

Shelton believes it was a crucial moment and was frustrated at his inability to capitalise.

“Honestly, [I am] really disappointed,” Shelton said in his post-match press conference. “Going into the match, playing Jannik is a tough ask. For me, I’ve made my living on Tour so far serving out sets and being able to serve out sets. Having two set points on my serve, serving at 6-5, I feel like it was uncharacteristic for me not to come through and win that.

“Obviously you’re playing the No. 1 player in the world, the chances, the windows are always small. Sometimes you miss your window, and the guy steps up his level, starts making a lot more first serves, playing better. The break chances don’t come as often.”

Shelton was competing in his second major semi-final, having advanced to that stage at the US Open in 2023. The American entered the clash against Sinner trailing 1-4 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series and knew he would have to be at his best if he was to end the World No. 1’s 19-match winning streak.

However, Shelton struggled to find his top level on serve, making 62 per cent of his first serves and winning just 56 per cent of those points, according to Infosys Stats.

“My spot serving I thought just wasn’t there tonight,” Shelton said. “Honestly, that’s been one thing for me this whole tournament, I thought that I haven’t served too great. I’ve been making up with my plus-ones, doing it with my forehand. I’ve honestly been breaking serve a lot. That was just one thing that outside of the [Pablo] Carreno Busta match that never clicked for me.

“It’s just something to keep going back and improving on. I thought that from the ground I played well. I thought I volleyed pretty well. I thought I returned well. I put myself in positions.”

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Shelton aimed to become the youngest American man to reach a major final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2004. The 22-year-old, who will rise to No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday, knows there will be many positives to take from his Melbourne run once the dust settles from the Sinner defeat.

“I know I’m close. I know my level’s close. I know I have a lot of the stuff that I need. I certainly believe in myself,” said Shelton, who has five Top 10 wins in his career. “I just think that the reps against those guys, the consistency of playing those guys, playing a lot of matches in a week or a couple weeks, that will be the goal this year for me.

“I think that those guys… Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak, the guys who have been dominating in the Slams since I’ve been on Tour, on their bad days they’re still winning in three sets, winning in four sets. They figure it out. I’m getting closer to being able to do that.”