What Jannik Sinner said about his upcoming Australian Open clash against Ben Shelton
Jannik Sinner says he is not taking anything for granted ahead of his Australian Open semi-final. The world number one insists he is always working to get “better and stronger.”
The Italian top seed will face Ben Shelton on Friday, just two matches away from defending his first Grand Slam title, which he won in Melbourne last year.
That victory marked the start of a breakthrough year for Sinner, who claimed eight titles, including the US Open and the ATP Finals. This helped him widen the gap between himself and second-ranked Alexander Zverev.
Sinner has now matched Italian tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli by reaching five Grand Slam semi-finals, gaining valuable experience in big matches.
American 21st seed Shelton will be competing in only his second Grand Slam semi-final, after reaching the same stage at the 2023 US Open, where he was defeated by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
“I’ve been in these situations before,” said the 23-year-old Sinner.
“But at the end of the day, every match starts at 0-0, and you just try to do your best. That’s the only thing I can control. If someone plays better than me on the day, there’s not much I can do. We never take anything for granted.
“We’re here trying to understand every situation, aiming to get better and stronger. We’ll see how it goes, not just here but throughout the season.”
Sinner’s dominant win over Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Wednesday was a reminder of his high level of play over the past 12 months, despite struggling with illness in his earlier match.
With that win, Sinner extended his unbeaten streak at hardcourt Grand Slams to 19 matches, following his Australian Open victory in 2024 and his US Open triumph.
Shelton, 22, is not intimidated and plans to enjoy the experience.
“Obviously, Jannik is the defending champion. We know what he’s done,” said Shelton.
“I’m really looking forward to it.
“Anytime you get to play against the best in the world, it’s a great chance to improve your game and see where you’re at. That’s what Friday will be for me.”
Shelton, who has risen to 14th in the live rankings, could climb as high as 5th if he wins his first Grand Slam title.
The winner of that match will face either 10-time champion Djokovic or second seed Zverev in Sunday’s final.
They also play on Friday, with Djokovic aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, which would surpass Margaret Court, and Zverev hoping for his first.
Djokovic battled through the pain with his upper left leg taped to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in a classic quarter-final. He now faces the challenge of whether he can recover enough to take on Zverev.
“I am concerned. I am, to be honest, physically,” said Djokovic after beating Alcaraz.
“But if I can somehow be physically good enough, I think mentally and emotionally, I’m as motivated as I can be.
“I’m playing Zverev, who is in great form, and he’s aiming for his first Grand Slam. He loves these conditions, has a big serve, and is a dangerous opponent on this surface against anyone.”
Zverev has been chasing a Grand Slam for nearly a decade and is in excellent form as he looks to take the next step in Melbourne.
“You don’t get to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam by chance. You have to play great tennis,” said Zverev.
“So I’ll prepare for a tough battle.”
