Defending champion Jannik Sinner beat Ben Shelton in the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday, securing his spot in the final against Alexander Zverev.
The top-seeded Italian will now face the German second seed, who advanced to Sunday’s final after Novak Djokovic retired injured during their semi-final clash.
Sinner overcame two set points in a tightly contested first set but took control after winning the tiebreak. He breezed through the next two sets in 2 hours and 36 minutes on Rod Laver Arena despite dealing with late-match cramps.
Earlier in the day, the Rod Laver Arena crowd witnessed disappointment as Novak Djokovic retired after losing a gruelling first set 7-6 (7/5) against Zverev. Djokovic, heavily taped on his upper left leg, left the court to a mix of boos and applause, ending his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
When asked about his future in the Australian Open, Djokovic hinted at the possibility of not returning, stating, “There is a chance. Who knows?” Despite this, he expressed his fondness for Melbourne and his career success there, adding, “If I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come.”
Djokovic’s Grand Slam drought continues, with five consecutive tournaments without securing the title needed to surpass Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam wins.
Sinner’s Dominance and Road to the Final
Sinner is one step away from defending his maiden Grand Slam title, which he won in Melbourne last year. The 23-year-old had already won four of his previous five meetings with Shelton, and his performance on Friday reinforced his dominance.
The opening set saw Sinner save two set points before taking the tiebreak after 71 minutes. He broke Shelton early in the second set, winning it in 42 minutes.
Although Shelton fought back in the third set with powerful forehand winners, Sinner held firm. Despite struggling with movement due to cramps or a possible groin issue, the Italian saved two break points and broke Shelton’s serve at 3-2. From there, he sprinted to victory.
