Australian Open: Defending champion Jannik Sinner defeats American Ben Shelton in straight sets to reach final

Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame an early test against American Ben Shelton to reach his second straight Australian Open final, winning 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner overcame an early test against American Ben Shelton to reach his second straight Australian Open final, winning 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2. World No. 1 Sinner has now reached three consecutive finals in hard court grand slams after winning the US Open and Australian Open last season, further cementing his status as the tour’s dominant player on the surface. Both men dealt with leg injuries during the match and needed medical attention; Shelton, appearing in just his second grand slam semifinal, had some particularly aggressive massaging done on his thigh several times. After losing his first match against the 22-year-old American at the 2023 Shanghai Masters, Sinner has now won five in a row against Shelton. “It was a very tough first set but a very crucial one, and I felt like he was serving not at his best today,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I think we both returned better than we served and first sets are always very important, it gives you a bit of confidence. “There was a bit of tension for both of us, but I’m very happy with how I handled the situation.”