Shelton hangs tough against Sonego to reach his maiden Australian Open semi-final
Ben Shelton edged out Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday. He’ll face the winner of the match between Jannik Sinner and Alex De Minaur next
© Julien Nouet / Tennis Majors
American Ben Shelton, the No 21 seed, edged out Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4) to advance to the semi-finals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
The result meant Shelton went one step further than his previous best campaign in Melbourne, where he reached the quarter-finals in 2023.
It was a tough day at the office for the American as he battled against a spirited Sonego for three hours, 53 minutes, with two sets extending beyond the one-hour mark. He registered nine aces and 53 winners, notably benefitting from the Italian’s 55 unforced errors.
Set 1: Shelton draws first blood
The opening set witnessed disciplined tennis from Shelton and Sonego as the two players remained on serve until the former drew first blood by converting a break point in the crucial ninth game.
He then served it out by holding to love and secured a lead.
Shelton saved all three break points that the Italian created in this set and averaged 80 percent on the first-serve points.
Set 2: Shelton doubles his lead
In the first game of the second set, Shelton and Sonego exchanged 15 rallies. The American created two break points but his opponent saved both to stay on serve.
Shelton managed to break in the seventh game but things were far from over.
The Italian broke back in the 10th game, however, the eventual winner broke again before doubling his lead on his serve.
Set 3: Sonego fights back
The third set saw Lorenzo Sonego fight back and make Shelton’s life tough on the court.
He managed to dig out a break in the dying moments of the set after his opponent saved a set point on serve in the 10th game.
The Italian averaged an impressive 94 percent on the first-serve points and 83 percent on the second.
Set 4: Shelton seals it in a tiebreak
Both players were unable to break each other in the fourth set, thus forcing a tiebreaker.
Furthermore, Shelton and Sonego remained inseparable until 4-4 in the tiebreaker but the former sealed it by winning the following three points.
Shelton, ranked No 20, will play the winner of the match between Italian Jannik Sinner, the top seed, and Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 8 seed, next.
The 22-year-old American won against Brandon Nakashima (7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5), Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4), Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 16 seed (6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5)) and Frenchman Gael Monfils (7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (2), 1-0 ret.) ahead of his victory.
Melbourne (Grand Slam), other last eight results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 60.627.573, most recent results first):
- Jannik Sinner vs. Alex De Minaur
- Novak Djokovic (7) beat Carlos Alcaraz (3): 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
- Alexander Zverev (2) beat Tommy Paul (12): 7-6 (1), 7-6, 2-6, 6-1
