Jannik Sinner beats Alex de Minaur: The reigning champion cruises into last four at the 2025 Australian Open

Both of the women's singles semi-finals feature in the night session at Rod Laver Arena:

(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Paula Badosa (11) - 08.30 GMT start.

(2) Iga Swiatek v Madison Keys (19)

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(1) Jannik Sinner v Ben Shelton (21)

(2) Alexander Zverev v Novak Djokovic (7)

(1) Aryna Sabalenka v Paula Badosa (11)

(2) Iga Swiatek v Madison Keys (19)

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Sinner now boasts a 20-4 record at the Australian Open.

The Italian has taken the equal-fewest matches (24) to register 20 Men’s Singles victories at the tournament since 2000, along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Sinner is only the second male player in the Open Era to clock up a 16-0 record against opponents playing at their home Grand Slam event, after Novak Djokovic.

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It’s a clean kill! The reigning champion provides a statement of intent as his title defence rolls on.

The World No.1 produces his best display of the tournament so far as he demolishes Aussie No.1 Alex de Minaur in straight sets, dropping just six games along the way.

The Italian breaks on his second match point to stretch his H2H domination over the Aussie to 10-0 and secure the latest win in one hour and 48 minutes.

Sinner will now meet Ben Shelton in the last four.

The frustration is finally being vocalised by Alex.

The forehand falters again and the stats won’t make for good reading.

He’s up to 26 unforced errors but only has 10 winners as a reward for taking the risks to try and breach the Italian’s strong defences.

There’s no let-up from the defending champion either as he holds to 15 to move within a game of the semi finals.

There’s a large cheer as Demon unloads what has become a rare winner off the backhand.

It earns him more game points and this time he converts!

The crowd react, possibly more in relief than with any sort of belief as their man eventually gets back on that board to at least avoid a third-set bagel.

The clinic continues as Jannik surges towards that finish line, backing up the double break with another hold to love.

It almost feels like Demon wants this to be over ASAP too.

It’s becoming a free but very public lesson out there.

De Minaur falls off a cliff at 30-0 up and once again it’s his forehand that lets him down, leaking more errors as Sinner dodges another wayward one to wave it goodbye and pocket the insurance break.

Too good.

There’s muted applause in appreciation of Sinner’s brilliance but Australians are feeling deflated all around Rod Laver Arena right now.

The ‘Let’s go Demon, let’s go’ chant is still being sung on occasion, but the enthusiasm and belief that forged it, is conspicuous by its absence as Sinner’s stranglehold on this match has tightened.

There’s no let-up here either as he backs up his break with a rampant love hold.

The Aussie dream is fading fast.

Demon flitters away a 40-15 advantage and comes under the microscope again at deuce.

Sinner outlasts him again in a draining rally to snare the forehand error and earn another break point.

The Italian miscues his return but shows great elasticity on the defence, leading Demon to go too big with a frustrated forehand that he blasts way off the island.  

There are no signs of the physical troubles Sinner experienced in his previous match against Rune.

In fact, the reigning champion seems to have moved up a gear just in time for the business-end of this tournament.

There’s a gloomy vibe inside Rod Laver Arena that will feel like bliss for the Italian as he leaves de Minaur with a mountain to climb by serving his way into a two-set lead via a clean hold.

Alex avoids the breadstick with a a rare, routine hold to 15.

Sinner will now serve for a two-set lead.

Oof. What can you do about that.

Sinner unleashes another ridiculous crosscourt forehand missile and doesn’t look back.

The two-time major winner’s efficient power game eases him 40-0 to the good and then he demonstrates his outrageous defence to soak up everything de Minaur throws at him, luring the error into the net for a clean hold to consolidate.

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It’s DEFCON 1 for Alex as a miscue off his backhand offers up another break point.

A service winner drags the Aussie to the sanctuary of deuce but he’s put on alert again when he booms a forehand long having dragged Sinner way wide to his right.

The No.8 seed hangs tough to fend off the second BP with a sensational crosscourt forehand but is worked over in the following rally and again, that injection of power from the top seed, breaches his defences.

The feeling of inevitability grows as Jannik keeps the heat on and a stonking crosscourt forehand winner from a defensive position deep on his baseline secures the insurance break at the third time of asking.

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Demon clenches his fist as he snares the opening point on the Sinner serve, but he’s just not making the in-roads to make life anywhere near uncomfortable enough for the World No.1.

The Aussie knows he has to go for his shots but the risk off his forehand is leading to cheap errors while Sinner’s injection of pace in the rallies is often the trump card.

Chuck in the reigning champion’s sizzling first serve and it’s easy to see why this match-up is a tough one for Alex.

Indeed, Sinner again looks firmly in control as he maintains his set and a break advantage with a game to 15.

De Minaur needs to find his A-game as another leak off the forehand gives Jannik sight of a potential double break at 30-30.

The No.8 seed steps it up as he backs up a brilliant backhand down the line with devilish angle on a crushing crosscourt forehand.

Sinner can’t do anything of the first serve that follows and Demon gets back onto the board.

‘Let's go Demon, let’s go…’ is the repetitive chant from a hard core group of ADM fans at Rod Laver Arena.

The home faithful are doing what they can to try and inspire the No.8 seed as he hits back from 30-15 down to seize the initiative in the next two rallies and earn a surprising break back point.

The Aussie No.1 then drags a first-serve return just wide that he would have hoped to have made and it’s as close as he comes as Sinner powers home two more clutch serves to dodge the danger and consolidate from deuce.

The ‘Oohs and Ahhs’ of the crowd are the soundtrack to what proves to be a delightful final point of the game.

Sinner gets a look at an immediate break point in Set 2 when Demon’s forehand falters again.

The Italian should make it count with a close-range backhand down the line off a clever dropper, but ADM demonstrates that incredible speed and his rapid reactions to block back two volleys before seeing the last act of a superb cat and mouse exchange fly off the island.

The World No.1 has a set and a break lead and it’s looking bleak for Aussie hopes now.

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