Ben Shelton made headlines by reaching the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open, showcasing his remarkable progression with a series of impressive performances over the past ten days. The American talent has found his rhythm on these courts and is aiming for a landmark feat at the first Grand Slam of the season, vowing to make every moment count.
After tough fights against Lorenzo Musetti and Gael Monfils, Shelton secured another crucial victory, this time against Lorenzo Sonego. The Italian, making his debut in the quarterfinals of a major tournament, played without restraint, seizing the opportunity with nothing to lose.
Shelton started strong, winning the first two sets, but suffered a setback in the third, allowing Sonego to close the gap. However, the young American showed tremendous mental strength, which proved decisive during key moments of the fourth set.
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A light-hearted moment occurred during the match when Shelton, currently ranked twentieth in the world, accidentally touched the chair umpire twice, much to the amusement of the spectators.
-Throughout the match, Shelton remained focused and showed no signs of settling for just a semifinal appearance.
In an interview with Italian media, Sonego acknowledged Shelton’s recent improvements: “He has improved considerably since our last meeting in Paris. His serve and forehand have both been high. Today he minimized errors not forced and demonstrated that he is a formidable player with great self-confidence.”
For Shelton, the next challenge will be facing another Italian opponent, current world number one Jannik Sinner. Expectations will be in favor of Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam champion, for their meeting on Friday, yet Shelton has the talent to challenge him on this surface.
It is notable that Shelton triumphed over Sinner in their first official meeting at the 2023 Shanghai Masters, although he has since failed to win a single set in their next four clashes.
