Preview Men's Australian Open Semi-Final: Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton as favourite faces rising American

We are getting into the business end of the Australian Open, as only four competitors remain in the competition. The semi-finals are set with Novak Djokovic taking on Alexander Zverev, while Jannik Sinner is set for a clash with Ben Shelton.

The matchup between Sinner and Shelton is particularly intriguing, as both players are in fine form and looking to capture the title. Tension will be high, with so much on the line over the next few days. Sinner will aim to defend his Australian Open crown, whereas Shelton will look to capture his first Grand Slam title.

Sinner's route to the semi-finals

Sinner entered the competition with the world number one ranking, a position that naturally adds extra pressure as every opponent sees him as a target. However, the Italian has been in fine form throughout the Australian Open and is now considered the favourite to lift the trophy.

His campaign began with a straight-sets victory over Nicolás Jarry. In the second round, he faced some early adversity, dropping the first set against Tristan Schoolkate before recovering to win comfortably. After a routine victory over Marcos Giron, Sinner set up a tough fourth-round match with Holger Rune.

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Although Sinner secured a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over Rune, the Italian faced physical struggles during the match, including dizziness and hand tremors, which raised concerns about his condition. However, Sinner recovered well and dominated Australia's Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals, dispatching the home favourite in straight sets.

It was a commanding performance from Sinner, as he broke de Minaur’s serve six times and only conceded 10 points on his own serve. This victory also marked Sinner’s 10th consecutive win over de Minaur, maintaining his perfect record against the Australian.

Sinner is now carrying strong momentum into his semi-final contest with Shelton, aiming to defend his title and secure his third major trophy.

Reflecting on his performance, Sinner said:

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"I feel like today I was feeling everything.

"On days like this, breaking early in each set is easier. He's a tough competitor and a fantastic player… We know each other quite well now. We've played each other so many times, trying to understand each other's games and preparing ourselves best.

"These kinds of matches, they can go quickly, but also they can change very fast if I go down with my level a little bit and he takes opportunities. I'm pleased about my performance today."

Ben Shelton on the hunt for his first Grand Slam

Ben Shelton

Coming into the Australian Open ranked around number 20, few would have expected Shelton to make it this far in the tournament. However, the American has played exceptional tennis, securing big wins on his way to the semi-finals.

Looking at his path to this stage, Shelton has faced tough opposition. Only one of his victories has come in straight sets, which was in the first round against Brandon Nakashima. He then battled through hard-fought wins against Pablo Carreño Busta, Lorenzo Musetti, and Lorenzo Sonego.

His quarter-final against Gael Monfils was highly anticipated, but unfortunately, the Frenchman had to withdraw due to injury, granting Shelton a place in the final four.

Shelton will now look to carry his momentum into the match against Sinner and cause an upset. He does have a win against Sinner on a hard court, but the Italian still leads their head-to-head 4-1.

Statistically, Shelton is the clear underdog, as Sinner has 263 career wins and 80 losses, while Shelton enters the match with 71 wins and 54 losses. However, the 22-year-old American will be determined to add win number 72 to his tally and topple the world number one.

What do the bookmakers think?

Sinner enters the match as the overwhelming favourite, with bookmakers heavily favouring the Italian to win.

• Sinner odds: 1/20
• Shelton odds: 11/1

This means that a £20 bet on Sinner would return just £1 in profit, while a £1 bet on Shelton would return £11 if he were to pull off the upset.

The most popular bet is for Sinner to win in straight sets, as the defending champion has looked dominant. Furthermore, all of their previous meetings have ended in straight sets, making this a likely outcome.

• Sinner to win in straight sets: 4/7A £7 bet would return £4 in profit.
• A £7 bet would return £4 in profit.

Another interesting bet is for Sinner to win, but for both players to take a set. Shelton has shown resiliencethroughout the tournament, so many believe he could steal a set before Sinner eventually wins.

• Sinner to win & both players to win a set: 6/4A £4 bet would return £6 in profit.
• A £4 bet would return £6 in profit.

For those who like a longshot, betting on Sinner to win 3-1 in sets could offer strong value. The Italian has dropped sets in previous matches, and if Shelton can capitalise on any inconsistencies, this could be a realistic outcome.

• Sinner to win 3-1: 12/5
  
• A £5 bet would return £12 in profit.

A future rivalry in the making

This semi-final matchup between Sinner and Shelton is one that tennis fans may see many times in the future. Both players are young, talented, and hungry for success, making them potential rivals for years to come.

With so much on the line, both athletes will be desperate to win the Australian Open title. Whether Sinner continues his dominance or Shelton pulls off a massive upset, this clash of rising stars is set to be a thrilling battle.

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