Shelton Blasts His Way Into Australian Open Semifinals

Ben Shelton, Australian Open
Ben Shelton (photo: Australian Open TV/YouTube)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 22, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Sonego played some ridiculously entertaining tennis for nearly four hours at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Whether it was 55th-ranked Sonego hitting an amazing reflex volley full of backspin – stretched to his fullest – or hitting what can best be described as a skyhook forehand passing shot off of a lob, or No. 21-seed Shelton firing rocket-fast 232 km/h first serves for aces while racking up 54 winners, there was plenty of variety for the fans on Rod Laver Arena to enjoy – and they applauded appreciatively for both players.

When it ended, three hours and 50 minutes after it started – and after playing 294 points, 139 of them at the net – the 22-year-old Shelton, seeded 21st, emerged with a 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) victory over Sonego to advance to his second career major semifinal.

The World No. 20 Shelton became the second active American man to reach multiple major semifinals after Frances Tiafoe, and he’s the second active man from the United States to reach an Australian Open semifinal after Tommy Paul.

“I feel relieved right now, shout out to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis,” Shelton said during his on-court interview. “I’m just really happy to be through, to get my first win on Rod Laver Arena. Thanks everybody for coming out, it was one of my favorite matches of the year.”

While Shelton was content to stay back at the baseline and strike massive groundstroke returns, Sonego repeatedly pressured the American by coming into the net to attack. The combination of styles contributed toward the 33 unforced errors by Shelton as well as the 63 winners racked up by Sonego. However, the strategy employed by 29-year-old from Turin also contributed toward his 55 unforced errors. There were five breaks of serve between the two competitors (Shelton converted three of 11 exchanges, Sonego two of eight).

Shelton, who has won two of three Grand Slam quarterfinal matches he’s played in, was asked about his consistency of winning big matches at the majors during his post-match news conference. He replied: “I’m really happy. I’m not sure if this is what I expected when my career started.

“For me, to be able to handle the physicality of five sets – I’m 24-8 in the Grand Slams I’ve gotten direct acceptance to – it’s really special to be playing at these big tournaments, and to play my best tennis at these big tournaments.”

After improving his head-to-head against Sonego to 2-1, Shelton will focus his attention toward his semifinal clash with another Italian, World No. 1 and defending AO champion Jannik Sinner.

The top-seeded Sinner defeated World No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1, in an hour and 48 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to achieve his 10th straight win over the Aussie No. 1. It was also his 12th consecutive win in Melbourne and 19th straight major victory on a hard court going back to the start of his Australian Open title run in 2024 and includes his US Open title conquest last year.

Sinner defeats de Minaur for 10th straight time

The 23-year-old from South Tyrol showed no signs of physical weakness that befell him in his previous match against No. 13 seed Holger Rune on Monday. Instead, he showed great form throughout and safely navigated his way to his fifth career major semifinal after defeating de Minaur. He’s the only Italian man to reach multiple Australian Open semifinals.

Sinner (5-0 in 2025) won with a polished, business-like performance that was never really in doubt. In his 10th career meeting with de Minaur, the outcome was the same as the first nine – a win for Sinner. It was their ninth head-to-head on a hard court and second at a major. Sinner won their only previous Grand Slam meeting in the round of 16 at Melbourne in 2022. Only once in their 10 skirmishes has de Minaur won a set – back in 2020 at Sofia.

This time, Sinner was sharp in his service games, winning 81 percent of his first-serve points. He struck 27 winners, made just 19 unforced errors, converted six of 10 break points, saved the only break point he faced and outpointed de Minaur 86-51.

“I feel like today I was feeling everything,” Sinner said during his on-court interview. “On days like this, when you break quite early in each set, it’s a little bit easier.”

Indeed, Sinner broke de Minaur for an early 3-1 lead in the first set. Then, he broke de Minaur early in the second set for a 2-0 advantage and made it a double-break lead at 4-1. The third set was much the same, a break for 2-0 and a double-break lead at 4-0 for Sinner. Soon after, he safely secured the victory.

“He’s a tough competitor and amazing player,” Sinner said of de Minaur. “We know each other quite well now. We’ve played each other so many times and we try to understand each other’s games, and try to prepare ourselves in the best possible way.

“These kinds of matches, they can go quickly, but also they can change very fast if i go down with my level a little bit and he takes opportunities. I very happy about my performance today.”

During his post-match news conference, de Minaur was asked if he had ever seen Sinner play better than tonight. The Aussie No. 1 thought about the question for a moment and smiled. Then, in his unfailingly polite tone of voice said: “It’s been too many times playing him and seeing the same thing. I’m not even surprised any more when I face him. He was very good today. With the conditions a little bit slower and playing later at night, it’s pretty tough to make him miss or to hurt him. He was bloody good tonight.”

Swiatek breezes into AO semifinals

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland made quick work of American Emma Navarro during their AO quarterfinal match on Rod Laver Arena Wednesday afternoon. Like her previous four matches during the Australian fortnight, the former No. 1 won in straight sets.

The five-time major champion eased past No. 8 seed Navarro, 6-1, 6-2, needing just 89 minutes to advance to her seventh Grand Slam semifinal of her career. At 23, she’s the youngest player to reach seven major semifinals since Maria Sharapova reached her seventh at the 2006 US Open.

Swiatek has lost just 14 games en route to the last four in Melbourne, the fewest since Sharapova lost only nine in 2013. Of note, only Sharapova, Monica Seles in 1991 (12) and Steffi Graf in 1989 (13) have lost fewer games to make the AO semifinals in the Open Era, since the tournament moved to a 128-player draw.

“Honestly, I wasn’t going so deep in Grand Slams so much except Roland-Garros,” Swiatek said after defeating Navarro, who had won four straight three-set matches to reach the quarterfinal round. “For sure now, I’m happy that I’m kind of playing my best level here. Last year, my journey here finished at fourth and third round, so for sure I feel more confident now.”

In her longest match of the tournament, Swiatek dominated Navarro in all facets of the quarterfinal. She dropped only five points on her first serve, won 53 percent of her receiving points and hit 22 winners. She converted five of nine break-point chances, including three in the opening set, and outpointed Navarro 67-45. From the outset, when Swiatek broke the American in the opening game with a backhand cross-court winner, it was game on.

Next, Swiatek will face No. 19 seed Madison Keys of the United States in the semifinal round Thursday evening, whom she has beaten in four of their five meetings. The World No. 14 has won 10 straight matches, including a tune-up title in Adelaide, and leads the WTA in wins this season with 12. Keys advanced with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 28 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine Wednesday afternoon.

World No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will play No. 11 seed Paula Badosa of Spain in the other semifinal match Thursday evening.

Around the Australian Open

The mixed doubles final will be an all-Aussie affair. The first all-Australian mixed doubles final in Melbourne since 1967 was made possible on Wednesday as Kimberly Birrell and John-Patrick Smith made history by joining Olivia Gadecki and John Peers in Friday’s mixed doubles final.

First, wild cards Gadecki and Peers upset No. 2 seeds Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus of New Zealand, 6-4, 6-4, in an hour and 11 minutes on Margaret Court Arena. The Aussies combined to hit seven aces and 12 winners overall. They converted three of four break points and outpointed Routliffe and Venus 58-47.

Then, Birrell and Smith, who also received a wild card into the main draw, eliminated British pair Olivia Nicholls and Henry Patten, 7-6 (2), 6-2, in one hour and 22 minutes. The winners outpointed their opponents 67-55.

Wednesday’s Australian Open results

Thursday’s Australian Open order of play

By the numbers

With his quarterfinal win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, Ben Shelton of the United States became the 25th American player to reach the Australian Open semifinals in the Open Era – and just the second active player to do so after Tommy Paul in 2023.

“Quotable …”

“Just focusing on myself and having the same kind of attitude no matter what the score is, is important.

“Being in the semis is great, so I’ll push for more.”

– World No. 2 and second seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, after defeating No. 8 seed Emma Navarro of the United States to advance to the semifinal round of the Australian Open.

 

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