Jannik Sinner beats Ben Shelton: 2025 Australian Open semi-final result from Rod Laver Arena as Sinner sets Zverev final
J. Sinner vs B. Shelton | Australian Open
Men's Singles | Semi-final | 24.01.2025 | Rod Laver Arena
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Finished
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J. Sinner (1)
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B. Shelton (21)
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Live Updates
Updated 24/01/2025 at 11:24 GMT
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12:00
HIGHLIGHTS: SINNER TO FACE ZVEREV IN 2025 AO FINAL AFTER ENDING SHELTON'S HOPES
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Sinner's title defence rolls on with semi-final win over Shelton - Australian Open highlights
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11:55
VIDEO: A FAMILIAR FEELING - SINNER CONTINUES WINNING RUN
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Watch match point as Sinner seals straight-sets win over Shelton to reach final
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11:50
REACTION AND ANALYSIS AS SINNER DOWNS SHELTON TO EYE THIRD MAJOR TITLE
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'Tension for both of us' admits Sinner as he battles cramps to win through
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'Patchy' Sinner backed to thrive in Australian Open final against Zverev
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11:46
ICYMI: NOVAK DJOKOVIC OUT OF THE 2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN
And if you have missed it, where on earth have you been!?
Yes, the big news of Day 13 was the retirement of 10-time champion Novak Djokovic after he lost the first set of his semi-final with Alexander Zverev by a 7-5 scoreline in a tie-break.
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Djokovic forced to retire injured in semi-final against Zverev - Australian Open highlights
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The Serb ultimately succumbed to the thigh issue he sustained in his quarter-final success over Carlos Alcaraz.
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'Don't boo a player who retires injured' - Zverev backs Djokovic after fan reaction
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Djokovic later told his post-match press conference that it could even have been his last Australian Open.
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Djokovic says 'there's a chance' he's played last Australian Open after injury retirement
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11:35
POST-MATCH REACTION: SINNER DELIGHTED TO BE BACK IN THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL
"It was a very tough first set. A very crucial one," he told Jim Courier on court at Rod Laver Arena.
"I felt like he was not at his best today, the percentage was not where he wanted it to be. We both returned better than we served.
"First sets are always very important; giving you confidence. There was a lot of tension for both of us. I’m very happy with how I handled the situation today. Happy to be back in the final."
He added: "A lot of tension and cramps today. He was suffering today in his legs. I tried to move him around and stay more aggressive, which helped a lot. These matches can go very long. Three sets in two and a half hours is quite a long time. So I’m happy to finish today in three.
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Watch worrying moment Sinner starts to limp in semi-final
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"I’m very happy to be back in the final. We’ll see what’s coming on Sunday."
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11:32
CONFIRMED: THE TOP TWO SEEDS WILL COLLIDE IN SUNDAY'S FINAL
It will be the first Men’s Singles final between the players ranked 1 and 2 at the Australian Open since 2019 when Djokovic (1) took down Rafael Nadal (2) in straight sets.
Zverev leads the H2H 4-2, but Sinner won their most recent meeting 7-6 5-7 7-6 in the semis in Cincinnati last year.
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Image credit: Getty Images
11:30
SINNER STATS
Sinner is the second-youngest player in the Open Era to win 20 consecutive hard court Men’s Singles Grand Slam matches - older only than John McEnroe in 1981.
The Italian is the youngest player to reach back-to-back Men’s Singles finals at the Australian Open since Pete Sampras (1994-1995).
Sinner has now won a set in all his last 88 matches - the last time he lost in straight sets was in final at the ATP Finals 2023 against Novak Djokovic
11:23
GAME, SET AND MATCH! – SINNER 7-6 6-2 6-2 SHELTON
The defending champion is back in the final and one win away from retaining his title!
It was a tough tussle at first, but in the end Sinner’s solid game was too good as he served out to 30 to complete a straight-sets win in just two hours and 36 minutes and reach his third major final.
The Italian will face No.2 seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s showdown for the trophy.
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11:18
BREAK! – SINNER 7-6 6-2 5-2 SHELTON
That could be that.
Sinner is in a hurry and Shelton has fallen away badly just when he needed to dig in and make each point as physical as possible.
The two-time major winner drills a backhand pass down the line to tee up triple break point and Ben coughs up the double break to love with an untimely double fault.
Sinner will now serve for a place in the final.
11:16
SINNER 7-6 6-2 4-2 SHELTON
Sinner rockets a spellbinding backhand winner down the line to put an emphatic full stop on a rampant clean hold.
The Italian is struggling a bit, but you couldn’t tell from that service game as he powers down the first serve to easily consolidate.
11:14
VIDEO: SINNER SECURES TWO-SET LEAD TO CLOSE-IN ON A RETURN TO THE AO FINAL
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Watch as 'immovable' Sinner takes second set as he eyes final
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11:11
BREAK! – SINNER 7-6 6-2 3-2 SHELTON
Shelton’s sudden upsurge takes a nose-dive as he double faults and leaks more unforced errors to cough up the break point.
A clutch serve gets him to the sanctuary of deuce, but a lob long brings up his 50th UE and a second BP.
The 22-year-old American staves it off with a brilliant forehand down the line and then takes a long look at his opponent when Sinner limps after missing a jump backhand.
The World No.1 remains poker-faced and locked-in during the rallies, however, and he hangs around long enough to lure a double fault that gives him a third bite at the cherry.
This time Ben can’t escape as he cannons a forehand attempt down the line into the net.
Sinner may be feeling it physically, but Shelton may not have enough time left to really test his fitness.
11:04
SINNER 7-6 6-2 2-2 SHELTON
The nature of that previous service game suggested this could be a dangerous moment for Jannik and when Shelton works his way to 0-30 the crowd begin to believe too.
Yet another thrilling baseline exchange ends with the top seed drilling a backhand long to cough up two break points, but Sinner immediately wipes out one with a bazooka of a forehand down the line.
The Italian comes up clutch with the first serve to brush away the second and then lands another one wide to take charge.
The plus-one forehand down the line completes the recovery in style and it remains all square early in the third.
10:57
SINNER 7-6 6-2 1-2 SHELTON
Shelton concludes a supreme 23-shot rally with a devilish low slice that disguises itself as a drop shot.
The crowd erupt and he’s pretty impressed with himself too, nodding in that cheeky way that endears him to so many fans.
It’s the pick of his points in an excellent game as he slaps down Ace No.7 straight after to keep his nose in front and perhaps suggest he may be ready to give this one big push to try and knock Sinner out of his stride.
10:53
SINNER 7-6 6-2 1-1 SHELTON
There’s a mini lull from Sinner as he leaks a couple of cheap errors to offer up a break point after Ben initially blew the chance to up the ante with a missed volley into the net.
The top seed booms a wrong-footing backhand down the line to take charge at deuce, but Shelton executes a lovely forehand up the line/crosscourt volley combo that Tim Henman again suggests is the way he could have made a bigger impact on the match.
It doesn’t pave the way to anything significant this time around as Sinner closes the door once again to get on the board and deny Shelton a much-needed boost.
10:45
SINNER 7-6 6-2 0-1 SHELTON
The crowd inside Rod Laver Arena get right behind Ben as he unleashes a wrong-footing crosscourt forehand winner to clock up a hold to 15.
They all want to see more tennis and a return of the thrills and spills that almost led to the big-hitting American taking the opening set.
10:40
SET! - SINNER 7-6 6-2 SHELTON
Sinner’s surge towards a two-set lead is disrupted by a seagull pooping on the court near to Shelton’s baseline.
There’s a brief flash of that cheeky grin from the American, but it’s soon replaced by a frown as Sinner quickly gets back to business after the clean-up operation, clouting down an ace to serve-out to love.
The defending champion is on the charge and is now just one set away from a return to the final.
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10:37
SINNER 7-6 5-2 SHELTON
Ben avoids the breadstick as Jannik bunts a forehand long on set point.
The American unloads on a backhand down the line at deuce and follows it with a forehand put-away that does the job down the middle before his fifth ace of the match helps him pocket a rare hold of late.
10:33
SINNER 7-6 5-1 SHELTON
It’s ruthless efficiency mode from Jannik.
Novak Djokovic got the nickname ‘The Serbinator’ for his machine-like ability to produce almost faultless tennis and perhaps it’s time Jannik got something similar.
The Italian easily chalks up another hold to 15 and is one away from a two-set lead.
10:31
REACTION: SASCHA ZVEREV OFFERS BACKING TO NOVAK DJOKOVIC AFTER EARLY RETIREMENT
The German, who will meet the winner of Sinner and Shelton in Sunday's final, has pleaded with the tennis world to "stop blaming" the Serb for his injury retirement during the pair's semi-final encounter at the Australian Open earlier today.
'Don't boo a player who retires injured' - Zverev backs Djokovic after fan reaction
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Djokovic, the 10-time champion in Melbourne, offered his hand to Zverev in defeat once he had lost the first set tie-break 7-5, with the Serb clearly struggling with a muscle tear in his left leg.