Jannik Sinner advanced to the Australian Open final with a straight sets win over Ben Shelton.
The world number one has looked mightily impressive in his first Major title ‘defense’ making his way through to the Australian Open final having dropped just two sets all tournament.
Sinner’s latest win over Shelton proved that pressure simply doesn’t seem to affect the young Italian, as he saved set points in the first, before winning, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Shelton had looked dangerous at points in the match, but the 23-year-old kept his cool and played the big points better, to qualify for his second final in a row.
He’ll face off against Germany’s Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final, a player who he trails the head-to-head with 2-4.
Ahead of their blockbuster clash, one former ATP Tour star has given his thoughts on what happened during the latter stages of Sinner and Shelton’s semi-final match.
Jannik Sinner cramping against Ben Shelton brought a ‘tear’ to Steve Johnson’s eye.
Speaking on the Nothing Major podcast, Steve Johnson gave his thoughts on Sinner cramping during the last few games of his win over Shelton.
“That is strictly just nerves,” he said.
“When you see that sometimes from the outside it looks a little odd but me one year, I remember at Wimbledon, I was cramping a set and 2-1 in – my arm started cramping because I was so nervous.
“Then you calm down and the nerves kind of get there.”
Johnson went on to explain how nerves can be a ‘good sign’ for the world number one.
“Every match is different,” he said.
“Just because [Jannik] Sinner has won two Slams and won the Australian Open last year doesn’t mean you are not going to get nervous.
“I think it’s a good sign there’s a human element to this sport from someone who has dominated for the last 12 to 18 months.”
Johnson then joked about how the dominant Italian showing signs of vulnerability made him emotional.
“It brings a tear to my eye to think he still does get nervous,” he said.
“The number one player in the world still gets nervous and has butterflies in his stomach when he has been winning routinely in the last 18 months.”
Sinner beat Johnson, back in 2019, a match that had the American wanting to ‘quit tennis’.
Johnson’s co-host Sam Querrey agreed, suggesting that the cramps were caused by nerves, and that his fitness won’t be an issue come Sunday.
“I am going to assume that is just like him maybe being a little nervous being favourite,” he said.
“I don’t think that is an issue at all.
“The dude weighs about 135 pounds when he’s soaking wet.
“There’s not a fitness issue in my head and he is going to go into the final feeling good, feeling fine.
“It was just kind of a weird thing.”
Jannik Sinner looks for third consecutive hard-court Grand Slam title
Sinner won the Australian Open in 2024, before taking home the US Open title later the same year.
In doing so he joined an elite group of players to have won two consecutive hard-court Slams, but could yet go one better on Sunday and win three in a row.
Only Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have won three hard-court Major’s in succession since the turn of the Century.
- Roger Federer (5) – 2005 US Open, 2006 Australian Open, 2006 US Open, 2007 Australian Open, 2007 US Open
- Novak Djokovic (3) – 2011 Australian Open, 2011 US Open, 2012 Australian Open
- Novak Djokovic (3) – 2015 Australian Open, 2015 US Open, 2016 Australian Open
If the Italian can beat Zverev in Sunday’s final, he’ll become the first player since Djokovic, nine years ago, to do so.
Sinner will play Zverev at Rod Laver Arena in the Australian Open final on Sunday, January 26.
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