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Australian Open SF Preview: Can Shelton halt Sinner's sizzling streak?

Defending champion faces American on Friday
January 23, 2025
Jannik Sinner leads Ben Shelton 4-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Peter Staples
Jannik Sinner leads Ben Shelton 4-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. By ATP Staff

Jannik Sinner will aim to extend his emphatic run of form at the hard-court majors on Friday, when he faces Ben Shelton for a spot in the Australian Open final.

Top seed and defending champion Sinner is on a 19-match win streak on the surface at Grand Slam level, and showed little sign of letting that go with his statement quarter-final performance on Wednesday. The 23-year-old Italian sunk home favourite Alex de Minaur in just one hour, 48 minutes to improve to 10-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Sinner can now look to another opponent against whom he has been successful in recent times: World No. 20 Shelton.

Sinner has not dropped a set in each of his past four triumphs against Shelton, and leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 4-1. Yet in typically measured fashion, Sinner was quick to point out the threats that his opponent could bring to the court come Friday.

“It's a difficult match for both of us,” Sinner said. “We know each other a little bit better now. We had some tough matches last year, so let's see what's coming. [He has] one of the biggest serves we have on Tour. He's a very aggressive player, an all-around player. He can go to the net, he can stay back.”

It All Adds Up

Sinner, the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is bidding to reach the final of a Grand Slam tournament for the third time in his career (2-2 record in SFs). In last year’s semi-final, the Italian laid down a marker with his four-set win over record 10-time champion Novak Djokovic to reach his maiden major final. Sinner could yet tee up another meeting with Djokovic if both are successful in their respective semi-finals. The Serbian faces World No. 2 Alexander Zverev.

With titles to close the 2024 season at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, and the Davis Cup Finals representing Italy, Sinner heads into his semi-final in Melbourne on a 19-match win streak. Standing between him and a second consecutive Australian Open final? Two-time major semi-finalist Shelton.

Shelton has been taking care of his business in a clinical manner in Melbourne this week. En route to improving on his debut quarter-final finish at the Australian Open in 2023, the big-serving lefthander overcame tight four-set battles against 16th seed Lorenzo Musetti and first-time major quarter-finalist Lorenzo Sonego.

The 22-year-old, however, is aware of the task he is faced with against World No. 1 Sinner. Despite this, Shelton has been vocal about his five-set credentials and may look to turn the match into a physical contest.

“In majors, best-of-three sets is a physical test and a serious mental test,” Shelton said after his fourth-round win over Gael Monfils. “I always back myself competitively when I am in these types of moments. Sometimes it can be tougher for me to get my foot on the gas when it's two out of three sets, but you play three out of five and feel you have all the time in the world.

“I like to think I am pretty fit thanks [to my team] and I can usually go the distance.”

Shelton, who reached the semi-final at the US Open in 2023, is aiming to break new ground and progress to the final of a major for the first time. If he is successful, he will push to a new career high of No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings. 

For more information on how to watch Friday's semi-finals, click here.

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