Italian Star Jannik Sinner Cruises into Australian Open Final

Jannik Sinner reaches his second consecutive Australian Open final, defeating Ben Shelton in straight sets and setting up a title clash with Alexander Zverev.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner is one step closer to retaining his Australian Open title after defeating Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 in the semi-finals. The 23-year-old Italian had to dig deep to save two set points in the opening set, but once he secured the tiebreak, he dominated the rest of the match, winning in two hours and 36 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Sinner's victory sets up a thrilling final against Alexander Zverev, who advanced to the championship match after Novak Djokovic retired injured from their semi-final clash. The German second seed will be looking to win his first Grand Slam title, having previously lost in two finals.

The stage is now set for an epic showdown between Sinner and Zverev on Sunday. Sinner, who has been in sublime form, will be seeking to extend his 20-match winning streak, while Zverev will be determined to finally claim his maiden Grand Slam title.

A special, special player ✨#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/qpRTfFbHog

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025

The crowd on centre court was left disappointed earlier in the day when Novak Djokovic retired from his match against Alexander Zverev after losing a grueling first set 7-6 (7/5). Djokovic's upper left leg was heavily taped, and after shaking hands with Zverev, he departed to some boos from the crowd, leaving his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown in tatters.

In the post-match press conference, Djokovic hinted that he may have played his last Australian Open. When asked if he may have graced the Melbourne Park courts for the last time, Djokovic replied, “There is a chance. Who knows?” He went on to express his love for playing in Australia, saying, “I normally like to come to Australia to play. I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come.”

It’s all adding up to back-to-back AO finals 🦊 @janniksin #InfosysStat • #AusOpenWithInfosys pic.twitter.com/2HXRkHQE0i

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025

Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slams without winning the title he needs to surpass Margaret Court's 24 and become the all-time leader. Despite his disappointment, Djokovic was positive about his performance in Melbourne, saying, “I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months.” He added, “I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to battle.”

Jannik Sinner is on the verge of achieving a historic feat, becoming the first player to successfully defend a Grand Slam title since 2008, after winning his maiden major crown in Melbourne last year. Sinner's victory over Ben Shelton marked his fifth win in their five career meetings, with the Italian having won the last four encounters against the explosive young American.

The opening set was a closely contested affair, with Sinner struggling to find his rhythm and dropping his serve twice. However, he dug deep to save two set points with Shelton serving at 6-5, and eventually took control of the tiebreak to move a set ahead after 71 minutes. Sinner's momentum carried over into the second set, where he broke Shelton early on and dominated the rest of the set, winning it in just 42 minutes.

Despite being troubled by cramp or a groin issue, Sinner showed remarkable resilience in the third set. Shelton, determined to make a last-ditch effort, unleashed a flurry of running forehand winners in an attempt to turn the tide. However, Sinner saved two break points and eventually broke Shelton's serve to take a 3-2 lead. From there, Sinner sprinted to the finish line, securing the win and setting up a thrilling final against Alexander Zverev.

The final will be a battle between the top two seeds, with Zverev appearing in his first Australian Open final. Despite being a two-time Grand Slam runner-up, having finished second at the 2020 US Open and last year's French Open, Zverev is still seeking his maiden major title. The stage is set for an epic showdown between Sinner and Zverev, with the Italian looking to make history and the German seeking to break his Grand Slam duck.