Stone cold Sinner: Jannik sweeps Shelton to set up heavyweight semifinal with Djokovic
Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 on Wednesday night to reach his third consecutive Australian Open semifinal. The two-time defending champion and second seed will now face Novak Djokovic in a clash of titans, extending his Melbourne winning streak to 19 matches.
Jannik Sinner, Australian Open 2026 | © PsNewz
Jannik Sinner defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to confirm his absolute dominance over the young American, marking his 22nd consecutive set won against him. In a quarterfinal masterclass, the Italian neutralized Shelton’s “huge” serve to secure his sixth consecutive Grand Slam semifinal.
With this victory, Sinner joins an elite circle, becoming only the fifth man in the Open Era to reach six or more consecutive Major semifinals, alongside Ivan Lendl, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal.
A Frightening Level of Form
Despite physical struggles during the extreme heat earlier in the tournament, the world No. 2 appears to have regained his peak physical condition. “Today I felt like I was moving again a bit better. I feel stronger physically again. I’m very happy,” Sinner noted following the match. His technical evolution in serving, volleying, and drop shots has rendered his game almost impenetrable, winning 36 of the last 37 sets he has played on the tour.
Facing Ben Shelton, whose year-on-year improvement he praised, Sinner maintained a “stone cold” composure throughout the contest. His 19th consecutive win at the Australian Open sees him tie Roger Federer for the fourth-longest winning streak in the tournament’s history, trailing only Djokovic (33), Andre Agassi (26), and Ivan Lendl (20).
The Duel of Masters: Sinner vs. Djokovic
Friday’s semifinal presents a monumental confrontation between the master of Melbourne, Novak Djokovic (10 titles), and the tournament’s current dominant force. While Djokovic boasts a legendary career, recent momentum favors the Italian; Sinner leads their head-to-head 6-4 and has won five consecutive matches and nine consecutive sets against the Serb.
When asked about the challenge of facing Djokovic, Sinner showed great respect: “These are moments you practice for. We are so lucky to have Novak here playing incredible tennis at his age”. Sinner, who is now just one win away from reaching his sixth consecutive Grand Slam final, appears ready for the most anticipated match of the fortnight.
