World No. 20 Ben Shelton reached the 2025 Australian Open semifinals Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 win over Lorenzo Sonego.
With the win, the American reached the ultimate 4 of a significant for the primary time because the 2023 U.S. Open the place he fell to Novak Djokovic within the semifinals. Following that spectacular run at Flushing Meadows two years in the past, the 22-year-old was anticipated to make gradual strides towards an elusive main. As a substitute, the alternative occurred.
In 2024, he suffered early exits in any respect 4 slams — Australian Open (third spherical), French Open (third spherical), Wimbledon (fourth spherical) and U.S. Open (third spherical) — and didn’t qualify for the ATP Finals. His solely title of the yr got here at a lowly ATP 250 occasion in Houston.
Maybe the brand new yr has introduced good tidings for Shelton, who has put away robust opponents like World No. 15 Lorenzo Musetti and veterans Gael Monfils and Sonego en path to the semifinal in Melbourne.
On the podium on Wednesday, Shelton stated he was “relieved” to achieve one other main semifinal and thanked the Melbourne followers for his or her help. Looking forward to a semifinal conflict in opposition to both Aussie Alex de Minaur or defending champion Jannik Sinner, Shelton sportingly welcomed boos from the Rod Laver Enviornment crowd.
“Thanks all people for popping out, it was one among my favourite matches of my profession,” Shelton stated.”If it is the house favourite Alex de Minaur [in the semi-finals], you guys can boo me, throw stuff at my head… I perceive. If it is the No. 1 on this planet [Jannik Sinner], it will in all probability be the identical, so I am trying ahead to it. I do know I acquired just a few within the crowd who’re going to be pulling for me too.”
