Sinner Beats Shelton at Australian Open, Mission Accomplished: Now There's Zverev

Melbourne, 24 January 2025 – The calm of a mountain lake beats the fireworks. Il penalty wins against disorder.

Sinner eliminates Shelton 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a match that it's all of this, with the addition of another pinch of unpredictability given by the service of the American hungry for victory: last year for the first time he pulled out the passport from the drawer and left his country. He had reached the quarterfinals, but "this time I'm more ready". But it wasn't enough, due to a less than perfect performance on serve. 

Now the Australian double is in the crosshairs: the number awaits him in the final two in the world Alexander Zverev, with the great desire to conquer that Slam that is so missing from his trophy cabinet.

Jannik Sinner, 23 years old, number 1 in the world

The prerequisites for a shock start. It's a break that wets the Rod Laver Arena court: for Sinner on court only one first serve out of six and Shelton doesn't miss the opportunity to be aggressive, tearing the joke to number one in the world. The Italian immediately tries to take back what he has stolen: he even has a chance in second game, but fails to land the decisive blow. Time will tell, because on the second occasion Sinner becomes much more proactive, pushing the American beyond the baseline and recovers ground. In the meantime, the percentages on serve increase, and the ATP number 1 converts many more points with the first serve (which however still serves 47% of the time), at least until 5-all, when Jannik has a small blackout in his service game and gives way again to Shelton, right at the most beautiful moment. He holds firm, however, while the young Ben perhaps does not close when he could, and rejoins the match at 6-all towards a tie break that he will then dominate thanks also to the forehand of the more insecure than usual American. 

Il 22 year old from Atlanta seems to take the blow and starts the second set a bit in confusion. Sinner takes advantage of this to immediately take a break ahead, increase the intensity and leave less and less space for Ben, who manages to create several chances to get back into the match or to hold his games, but does not capitalize on them until 0-4. He manages to win two games in the set, despite the suffocating pressure of Sinner da baseline: the blue team however does not let itself be surprised and manages to close the partial 6-2. 

It is wrong to think of a total collapse of Shelton, who in the third set tries in every way to stay glued to the number 1 in the world, even taking many risks on the second serve. Risks that however make him lose his serve at 2 all. Sinner limps slightly, and in the change of sides he also makes massage a thigh from the physiotherapist. But from that moment on, the world number one doesn't stop: he scores 11 points in a row and once again takes the serve from his opponent, taking the lead to 5-2