MELBOURNE, Australia — Jannik Sinner, the reigning champion, powered through some late-match cramping to defeat Ben Shelton with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 on Friday, securing his spot in the Australian Open final for a chance at his third Grand Slam title.
The 23-year-old Italian, currently ranked No. 1, faced a challenging start, falling behind in the first set where he was on the brink of losing. Shelton served at 6-5 with two set points, but Sinner managed to break back, capitalized on the momentum, and won the decisive tiebreaker. He continued his strong performance into the second set, promptly breaking Shelton again.
“This was an incredibly tough first set, but it was essential for me,” remarked Sinner, who has extended his winning streak to 20 matches, dating back to the previous season. In contrast, 22-year-old American Shelton now holds a record of 0-2 in Grand Slam semifinals.
“I know I’m close,” Shelton expressed, acknowledging that he believes he’s nearing his peak performance. Sinner described the intensity of their match at Melbourne Park, highlighting the palpable “tension” in the air. “I’m pleased with how I managed everything today,” he added.
The only difficulty he encountered during the two-and-a-half-hour match at Rod Laver Arena arose in the third set when he experienced cramps in his left hamstring and right thigh. A trainer attended to him on multiple occasions, providing leg massages during breaks.
With this victory, Sinner has become the youngest man to reach consecutive Australian Open finals since Jim Courier accomplished the feat in 1992-93. Interestingly, it was Courier who conducted the post-match interview with Sinner.
Sinner captured his first Grand Slam title at this same event last year, followed by a second at the U.S. Open in September. This achievement came shortly after a doping allegation that remains under appeal, with a hearing set for April.
On Sunday, Sinner will aim to add another title to his collection as he goes up against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev in the finals. Zverev reached his third Grand Slam final after Novak Djokovic retired from their semifinal match due to a leg injury after just one set.
“Anything can happen. He’s an outstanding player,” Sinner commented on Zverev, noting the weight of expectation as he seeks his first major title. “I anticipate a lot of tension once again.”
Reflecting on his performance, Shelton expressed disappointment about not being able to secure the first set. “I’ve built my career on serving out matches, so not converting those set points felt uncharacteristic for me,” he said. “In games against the No. 1 player in the world, opportunities are rare. Sometimes you just miss your chance, and the opponent rises to the occasion.”
