Match ReportAmerican tops Sonego, faces Sinner or De Minaur in last four
January 22, 2025
William West/AFP via Getty Images
Ben Shelton is competing in his third Australian Open. By ATP Staff
Ben Shelton is back in a Grand Slam semi-final after an entertaining win against Lorenzo Sonego on Wednesday at the Australian Open. The 22-year-old American, who reached the last four at his home major in 2023, is two victories from the title in Melbourne after a 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) result that lit up Rod Laver Arena into the early evening.
Shelton is the second active American man to reach multiple major semi-finals after Frances Tiafoe, and the second active man from his nation to reach the Aussie Open semis after Tommy Paul.
“I feel relieved right now, shoutout to Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis,” said Shelton in his on-court interview. “I’m just really happy to be through, to get my first win on Rod Laver Arena. Thanks everybody for coming out, it was one of my favourite matches of my career.
“If it’s the home favourite Alex de Minaur [in the semi-finals], you guys can boo me, throw stuff at my head.. I understand. If it’s the No. 1 in the world [Jannik Sinner], it’ll probably be the same, so I’m looking forward to it. I know I got a few in the crowd who are going to be pulling for me too.”
In a match full of shotmaking, both players hunted their forehands and inflicted damage from all parts of the court. The competitors combined to play 139 net points, according to Infosys Stats, with Sonego winning 67 of 90 (74 per cent) as he repeatedly pressured his younger opponent.
Shelton’s patience from the baseline was rewarded in the opening two sets, with the American expertly picking his spots to unload his lefty forehand and finish points in the frontcourt. After both men created multiple break points in each of the first two sets, there were no break points on offer in the third until Shelton lost his final service game to surrender the set.
The point of the match came early in the second set, when Sonego fought off a break point with a diving drop volley that spun back onto his side of the net. A stunned Shelton, who smiled through much of the three-hour, 50-minute match, offered a handshake as Sonego soaked in the applause.
Ah, what… How did the ball end up there?!
Not for the first time at #AO2025, Lorenzo Sonego wins a crazy point!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/UifdSZjdEz
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 22, 2025
The applause was for Shelton during the post-match handshake, after the American reacted well to dropping the third set. In the fourth, it appeared as if the match was swinging in Sonego’s favour, but Shelton crucially saved a break point in the sixth game to snap any shift in momentum. The 22-year-old bided his time before pouncing in the tie-break to seal victory.
After improving to 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against Sonego, Shelton awaits defending champion Jannik Sinner or home favourite Alex de Minaur in Friday’s semi-finals.
Up six places to No. 14 this week in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, the American could move as high as No. 5 by winning his first Grand Slam title.
