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Defending champion Jannik Sinner continued his sizzling Australian Open run with a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over American 21st seed Ben Shelton on Friday, to reach a second straight final at Melbourne Park, where he will meet Alexander Zverev for the title.
Sinner's victory made the 23-year-old the youngest man to advance to multiple finals at the Australian Open since Jim Courier in 1992 and 1993, while also keeping alive his hopes of becoming the first Italian to lift three Grand Slam singles trophies.
"I'm happy to be back in the final again," said Sinner, who had to overcome cramping in the third set. "Sundays are special days in tournaments and I'm hoping I can enjoy it."
Jannik Sinner (L) and Ben Shelton talk after their Australian Open men's singles semifinal match in Melbourne, Australia, January 24, 2025. /CFP
Sinner entered the match at Rod Laver Arena having won four of his five meetings with left-hander Shelton, but found himself in trouble early on, as a thunderous forehand sealed a break for American, which he followed up with a tight hold.
The top seed shrugged off the tentative start to draw level at 2-2 and attacked Shelton's powerful serve at every opportunity, but a lapse on his own delivery in the 11th game left him in a spot of bother again, before he saved two set points.
Shelton bounced his racket off the court after falling behind 4-0 in the ensuing tiebreak, as his accuracy cruelly deserted him, and Sinner gleefully accepted the first set when his frustrated opponent sailed a forehand wide.
After a breathless start to the second set, Sinner released the handbrake to win the opening four games without response, and soon left a dejected Shelton in the rearview mirror while doubling his advantage in the match.
Sinner felt a problem in his left leg during a tense third set, and had it worked on by a trainer after breaking to go 3-2 up, before several huge winners took him to the finish line, and back-to-back major finals, following his triumphant run at the U.S. Open.
Earlier, second seed Zverev reached his first Australian Open final and third overall at the Grand Slam level, when 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic retired due to a left thigh injury, after dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker 7-6(5).