World No.1 Jannik Sinner stormed into his second consecutive Australian Open final with a commanding 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 victory over Ben Shelton on Friday night at Rod Laver Arena. The 23-year-old Italian showcased resilience and clinical execution to overcome the American’s early aggression and extend his winning streak on hard courts to 20 matches.
The match began with a surge from Shelton, who broke Sinner’s serve in the opening game with a blistering forehand down the line. The 22-year-old, renowned for his thunderous serve, appeared in control early, holding his ground against the world’s best. However, Sinner, showing why he holds the top ranking, found his rhythm on return and broke back to level the set at 2-2.
Shelton had a chance to take the first set, earning two set points on his serve at 5-4. Sinner, however, stood firm under pressure, delivering clutch returns and forcing errors from the left-hander. The set entered a tiebreak, where Sinner’s composure and precision came to the fore. Striking clean winners and outlasting Shelton in extended rallies, he cruised to a 7-2 tiebreak win, a pivotal moment that shifted the momentum entirely.
“It was a very tough first set, but a very crucial one,” Sinner said. “First sets are always important. There was a bit of tension for both of us, but I’m very happy with how I handled the situation today.”
Sinner accelerated in second and third sets
The second and third sets were a masterclass from Sinner, who dictated play with his relentless baseline game and lightning-quick reflexes. Shelton, known for his aggressive style, tried to adjust by attacking the net, but his 55 unforced errors proved costly. Sinner’s consistency and ability to counter Shelton’s 220 km/h serves were key, with the Italian breaking serve five times throughout the match.
A brief scare emerged in the final set of the semi-final when Sinner appeared to cramp after missing a leaping backhand. Following a quick rubdown from the trainer, the Italian returned invigorated, launching an 11-point run that included a ferocious 168 km/h forehand winner.
“For three sets, two-and-a-half hours is quite a time, so I’m happy to finish in three,” Sinner said. “Very happy to be back in the final, and we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”
Sinner will face Alexander Zverev in the final, a rematch of their gruelling Cincinnati clash last year, where Sinner triumphed despite a hip issue. Zverev, who leads their head-to-head 4-2, will pose a significant challenge, but Sinner’s current form makes him the favourite to secure his third consecutive hard-court Grand Slam title.
