Ben Shelton over Lorenzo Sonego
In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup at the Australian Open, American Ben Shelton emerged victorious over Italian Lorenzo Sonego, advancing to his second Grand Slam semifinal at just 22 years of age. Shelton displayed impressive athleticism and powerful strokes, earning cheers from the crowd for his entertaining play.
Sonego, known for his exceptional net play, executed a remarkable volley that bounced on one side of the net and floated back over to the other. However, Shelton remained composed and ultimately secured the victory in four sets: 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (4).
Shelton's Path to Victory
Shelton's serve proved to be a significant weapon, delivering an ace clocked at 144 mph (232 kph) to close out the first set. His forehand also proved dominant, enabling him to earn a crucial break in the second set and fend off Sonego's challenges.
Despite Sonego's valiant efforts and spectacular shots, Shelton's consistency and determination propelled him to the semifinal round. He will now face top-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy for a spot in the Australian Open final.
Jannik Sinner over Alex de Minaur
Italy's Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, continued his impressive run in the tournament by overpowering local hope Alex de Minaur in straight sets: 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Sinner's dominance was evident throughout the match, leaving de Minaur frustrated.
De Minaur, who had never defeated Sinner in their previous 10 encounters, acknowledged his opponent's superior performance and expressed his disappointment.
Sinner's Return to Form
Sinner's victory marked a significant improvement from his previous match, where he struggled with physical discomfort. After taking a break on Tuesday, Sinner reported feeling much better and delivered his best performance of the tournament to date.
The Italian's serve, forehand, and backhand were all firing on all cylinders, leaving de Minaur with little chance to break his rhythm. Sinner's relentless pressure and aggressive play proved too much for the Australian, who could not find a way to overcome the top seed.
Other Notable Performances
In the women's semifinals, Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, Iga Swiatek, and Madison Keys will face off for a spot in the final. Sabalenka and Swiatek have won the tournament in previous years, while Badosa and Keys will be looking to make their mark.
Novak Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam champion, will meet Alexander Zverev in the other men's semifinal. Djokovic overcame a leg injury to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in a grueling quarterfinal match, while Zverev has been in impressive form throughout the tournament.
2-22-23Authored by Howard Fendrich, The Associated PressURL: https://apnews.com/article/australian-open-tennis-tournament-2023-a88095e6c5c3462521ad870e0d1a857f