Melbourne: Janik Sinner secured his place in the Australian Open semifinals for the third consecutive year by defeating local favourite Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday at Rod Laver Arena. The world number two strengthened his bid for a third Australian Open title and extended his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 19 matches.
The two-time former champion recorded his ninth consecutive victory against the strong left-handed Shelton. The players have met four times in major tournaments so far, with Sinner winning all encounters, including two matches in Australia and two at Wimbledon. Sinner will now face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals on Friday.
Djokovic, a four-time major champion and record ten-time Australian Open winner, will be competing in his ninth Grand Slam semifinal and third Australian Open semifinal this year. The match promises to be a significant challenge for Sinner.
According to ATP reports, Sinner has previously defeated Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open 2024, Roland Garros 2025, and Wimbledon 2025.
During the match, Sinner targeted Shelton’s backhand and applied pressure on his forehand side, maintaining control from the baseline. This strategy helped Sinner take a commanding 9-1 lead in their head-to-head. Shelton’s serve was less effective than expected, while Sinner responded strongly in the opening two sets.
The match was engaging, though despite the straight-set scoreline, Sinner showed signs of physical fatigue towards the end of the second set. He dominated the first set, finishing with an 18-4 advantage in unforced errors. Sinner maintained this momentum into the second set, increasing pressure on Shelton, who struggled to find rhythm and faltered at key moments.
Shelton failed to convert all three break points and committed 17 unforced errors in the second set. At 15/40, Shelton double-faulted, allowing Sinner to secure a decisive break in the ninth game of the third set.
Although the 24-year-old Italian appeared briefly fatigued, his pace soon returned. He broke Shelton again towards the end of the third set and sealed the victory in two hours and 25 minutes without dropping a set.
Sinner’s impressive performance keeps his Australian Open title hopes alive as he prepares to challenge Djokovic in what promises to be a thrilling semifinal clash.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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