Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame a challenging start to defeat American Ben Shelton and secure his place in the Australian Open final for the second consecutive year. The match concluded with Sinner triumphing 7-6, 6-2, 6-2. Throughout the contest, Sinner demonstrated his superiority on the hard court surface, ultimately setting up a showdown with Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final.
Shelton began the match with vigor, breaking Sinner in the opening game. However, Sinner quickly retaliated, breaking back to level the score at 2-2. Despite Shelton's efforts to seize the momentum by breaking Sinner again to lead 6-5, he squandered two set points. Sinner capitalized on this opportunity, pushing the set to a tie break, which he won with ease.
The second set saw Sinner breaking Shelton twice in succession, putting the match firmly in his control. Although Shelton tried to mount a comeback in the third set, he failed to convert three break points during two of Sinner’s service games. This allowed Sinner to seal the victory and continue his dominance over Shelton, having now won five consecutive matches against him.
Sinner's performance at this year's Australian Open highlights his prowess on hard court surfaces, marking his third consecutive final appearance in grand slam events held on this terrain. Last season, he claimed victories at both the US Open and the Australian Open. Reflecting on his journey to the final, Sinner remarked on the significance of reaching another Sunday showdown.
“He’s an incredible player. He’s looking for his first major. There’s again going to be a lot of tension, but I’m happy to put myself in this position again. Sundays in tournaments are very, very special days, so I’m going to enjoy it.” – Jannik Sinner
Despite experiencing "small cramps" due to the match's tension, Sinner expressed satisfaction with his straight-sets win.
“These matches can go very, very long, so I’m happy to finish in three sets today.” – Jannik Sinner
Moreover, he acknowledged the importance of securing the crucial first set and capitalizing on Shelton's below-par serving.
“It was a very tough first set but a very crucial one, and I felt like he was serving not at his best today,” – Jannik Sinner
Looking ahead to Sunday’s final, Sinner will face Alexander Zverev, who is in pursuit of his maiden grand slam title. Zverev advanced to the final following Novak Djokovic's withdrawal due to injury from Friday's semifinal.
Leave a Reply