Australian Open semi-finals: Can Jannik Sinner stop the ‘showman’ Ben Shelton? Will Novak Djokovic’s leg hold up?

Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner faces ‘showman’ Ben Shelton while 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic plays Alexander Zverev in this year’s semi-finals…

Sinner’s ‘aura’ helps him sail into semis

Sinner has won his last 12 matches at the Australian Open and his last 19 across all tournaments.

It’s 34 victories from 35 for Sinner on the ATP Tour – his sole blemish since August losing the China Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in October – during which time he picked up a second Grand Slam title, at the US Open.

No wonder the man he dumped out in the quarter-finals in Melbourne, Alex de Minaur, spoke about the Italian’s “aura” after he was dismantled 6-3 6-2 6-1.

De Minaur said after his 10th successive defeat to Sinner: “He’s built this aura up from beating everyone. It’s not like he’s just had a good week here or good week there. He’s just beaten everyone. He’s got this top level that he can do this to players, it’s tough.

“You know it’s going to be a battle. You try different things but then you’re an hour and 30 in, struggling to win games and find ways to get on the board, it’s pretty surreal.”

Sinner’s relentless ball-striking was too much for De Minaur, just days after the world No 1 had battled illness during a four-set win over Holger Rune in the last 16.

Now the title favourite in Melbourne plays Ben Shelton in the semi-finals, a man he has beaten four times in a row without dropping a set, including three times in 2024.

Can ‘showman’ Shelton stun favourite Sinner?

Shelton advanced to his second career Grand Slam semi-final with a four-set win over unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego, with his returning stats as well as his traditional booming serve – he reached speeds of 144mph in the quarter-final – key to that victory.

The American – a US Open semi-finalist in 2023 – fashioned 11 break points against Sonego, converting three, but making such inroads against Sinner will be some ask.

At least the 21st seed should have more of the crowd on his side than he would have done had home favourite De Minaur made it through.

“He enjoyed himself, smiled out there, and went for some ridiculous shots, playing the showman,” former British tennis player and now pundit Laura Robson said of Shelton’s win over Sonego. “Hopefully we see more of that against Sinner.”

Shelton lost in straight sets when he faced Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals a couple of years ago.

Murray marriage key for history-seeking Djokovic

The hunt for history continues for Djokovic, with the Serb remaining on track for a record-extending 11th Australian Open men’s singles title and record-setting 25th Grand Slam crown in total – he is currently tied with Margaret Court on 24 – after seeing off Alcaraz in an epic quarter-final on Wednesday, winning despite a leg injury.

The Serb was full of praise for his rival-turned-coach Andy Murray after his victory, saying: “He’s out there and he doesn’t need to be. He accepted to work with me. He’s giving all his support to me, to the whole team, and trying to make it work.

“I feel more connected with Andy every day. We try to make the most out of every day and grow together. He’s as committed to my career and this tournament as he can be.”

The 37-year-old admits his leg injury is a “concern” as he prepares to face a man in Alexander Zverev who has shipped just two sets in the tournament, compared to Djokovic’s three, but the fact the veteran has had two days off should assist him.

Djokovic and Zverev have met 12 times previously but only once since 2021 – at the Cincinnati Masters semi-finals in 2023 as the Serb triumphed in three sets. Zverev is a different beast now, though.

Zverev: I know I have the level to beat Djokovic

Zverev, who struggled to hit top form during two seasons disrupted by serious injury, looked back to his best last year, winning the Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris as well finishing runner-up at the French Open.

The German knocked out American 12th seed Tommy Paul in the last round to reach a third Australian Open semi-final and he believes he has what it takes to get the better of Djokovic.

“I’m going to prepare myself for a very intense and high-level match,” Zverev told reporters. “I know I have the level. Hopefully I can do that again (beat him).

“Djokovic has completely dominated tennis in the last 10-12 years.

“There is a reason why he has consistently been at the top of this sport. That is something that is shown by this record, being the player with the most weeks as No 1 in history, whether male or female. I’m sure he’s going to break more records, really. I don’t know if there are still too many to break, but the ones that remain, maybe he will break them.”

At 27, the second seed is still seeking his first Grand Slam title and hopes to become the first German man to win the Australian Open since Boris Becker in 1996.

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