AO2025: Sinner sets up SF clash with Shelton with another effortless win

 


The lineup for the second men’s singles semifinal at the Australian Open is now confirmed. Top seed Jannik Sinner breezed past eighth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. In the other quarterfinal, 21st seed Ben Shelton overcame unseeded Lorenzo Sonego with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Halfway through the year’s first Grand Slam, the excitement of the tournament remains high. After winning his quarterfinal, Novak Djokovic aptly remarked, “It felt like I already played the final,” referring to his electrifying battle against Carlos Alcaraz. In contrast, the Sinner-De Minaur quarterfinal lacked the same intensity. Sinner, the top seed, was the main draw of the fourth quarterfinal, but the match’s limited excitement hinged on De Minaur’s performance. Unfortunately, the Australian faltered, with Sinner asserting his dominance as the match progressed.

The scoreline—6-3, 6-2, 6-1—resembled a first-round encounter rather than a Grand Slam quarterfinal. Even early-round matches often offer stiffer competition. However, this seemed to be the best the tournament organizers could manage in terms of a local contender. A handful of fans in yellow T-shirts cheered for De Minaur from the stands, displaying characteristic Australian fervor. They celebrated every point he won, trying to ignite a spark in their homegrown star. But their efforts were in vain, as De Minaur’s unforced errors extinguished any semblance of competition.

Did Sinner play exceptionally well? Not necessarily. He didn’t need to. A seasoned professional, he conserved energy for the semifinals and finals, executing a controlled performance. De Minaur, on the other hand, exposed glaring weaknesses. His understanding of court positioning seemed inadequate for this stage, and he repeatedly misfired routine forehands. Poor shot selection invited Sinner to the net, while his erratic first serve undermined his chances. Such shortcomings are hardly befitting a Grand Slam semifinalist—and ultimately, De Minaur didn’t deserve a spot.

The day’s earlier quarterfinal was comparatively competitive, with unseeded Sonego posing a formidable challenge to Shelton. It was a tightly contested match, giving the 21st-seeded American valuable preparation for his clash against Sinner. Does this mean the top seed has an easy opponent in the semifinal? That question will be answered on Friday.

Meanwhile, tennis enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the showdown between Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal. The organizers have wisely scheduled this marquee match later, ensuring that the drama and excitement of the year’s first Grand Slam remain intact.


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