Shelton Faces Sinner in Australian Open Semifinal Clash

MELBOURNE, Australia — American tennis star Ben Shelton will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open men’s semifinal on Friday, marking their sixth encounter in 15 months. Shelton, 22, is the youngest American man to reach this stage of the tournament since Andy Roddick in 2003.

Sinner, the defending champion and top seed, enters the match in dominant form, having dropped just six games in his quarterfinal victory over Alex de Minaur. The Italian has won four consecutive matches against Shelton without losing a set since their first meeting in Shanghai in 2023, where Shelton emerged victorious in a third-set tiebreaker.

“I felt like today was a very great match from my side,” Sinner said after his quarterfinal win. “I served very well. Breaking quite early in each set was very important for me and for my game. For sure, it was the best match of the tournament so far.”

Shelton, however, remains undeterred. The unseeded American has showcased resilience throughout the tournament, surviving multiple tiebreakers and long matches. “I’ve had to pick up the slack with everything else in my game,” Shelton said. “I think I’m a much better returner right now than in the past.”

Shelton’s serve, which has reached speeds of 232 km/h during the tournament, could be a key factor. He has won 79% of his first-serve points, trailing only Sinner’s 82% among the semifinalists. However, Shelton has also committed 17 double faults, the most of the remaining players.

Historically, left-handed players like Shelton have struggled at the Australian Open. Since the tournament switched to hard courts in 1988, only Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco have reached the semifinals as left-handed men. Shelton is the youngest left-handed semifinalist since Nadal in 2008.

Despite the odds, Shelton remains optimistic. “You have to choose your moments, still be confident in the things that you trust,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll be redlining … I think that a more aggressive game style, that’s taking the ball a little earlier or serve and volleying more.”

The match is scheduled for Friday evening at Rod Laver Arena, where Sinner has thrived under the lights. Shelton, who has mostly played during the day, will need to adapt quickly to the conditions and Sinner’s relentless precision.

Should Shelton pull off an upset, he would become only the second left-handed man in the 21st century to reach the Australian Open final, joining Nadal. For now, the American is focused on proving he belongs among the sport’s elite.