Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner has secured a spot in the semi-finals, moving one step closer to a potential sixth consecutive grand slam final appearance. The Italian triumphed over American Ben Shelton in a straight-sets victory on Wednesday night at Rod Laver Arena.
Dominant Performance on Court
Sinner displayed commanding form throughout the match, winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes. He controlled the first two sets with early breaks and sealed the third set with a late strike before serving out the win. Statistically, Sinner impressed with 33 winners compared to just 16 unforced errors, and he won 78 percent of his points on first serve while saving all four of Shelton's break points.
Fitness Concerns Linger
Despite the victory, concerns about Sinner's fitness levels persist. Just four days earlier, he suffered full-body cramping during his third-round win in 40-degree heat. Commentators noted unusual behavior during the match, suggesting he may not have fully recovered.
Former world number one Jim Courier observed in commentary on Nine that Sinner "doesn't look quite normal yet." He pointed out that Sinner was frequently watching the serve clock and taking extra time between points, which is out of character for the player, especially early in a match.
"Everything within the rally physically looks normal for him, but in between the rallies, he's taken a lot of extra time looking up at the serve clock and working it down to zero," Courier said. He added that while the brutal match with cramping was a while ago, Sinner's recovery might not be complete.
Lleyton Hewitt also commented at the start of the third set, noting that Sinner "did look a little distressed at times" in the last service game of the second set, though he managed to close it out.
Sinner's Response and Outlook
In his on-court interview, Sinner admitted to struggling but expressed optimism about his progress. "I was struggling. We go day by day," he told Jim Courier. He highlighted a confidence boost from a previous win against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi and felt stronger physically during this match.
"Today I felt like I was moving a little bit better, stronger physically and I'm very happy. Semis again and I'm very happy to be there again. We all know what challenge I'm up to but I'm looking forward to it," Sinner said.
As he prepares for the semi-finals, all eyes will be on whether his fitness holds up under pressure. The tennis world awaits to see if he can continue his impressive run at the Australian Open.
