Overcoming stiff tests to reach the penultimate stage of the Australian Open, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Ben Shelton will battle for a chance to write the 2025 major’s ultimate chapter on Friday in Melbourne.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner made it through his second straight Australian Open semifinal by outlasting home hope Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 48 minutes.
“On days like these, when you break early in each set, it’s a little bit easier,” Sinner commented after an encounter he dominated.
“He’s a tough competitor and an amazing player,” he said about De Minaur. “These kinds of matches can go quickly, but they can change very fast if I go down with the level a little bit and he takes the opportunities, so I’m very happy about my performance today.”
The top seed was on a level of his own throughout the entire match, showing no signs of the physical distress he experienced when meeting Dane Holger Rune, struggling with the high temperatures and humidity levels.
The world No. 1 delivered his A-game with finesse; sharp on serve - he missed just 10 points on his delivery - he won 84 percent of the points on his first serve and 81 behind his second.
Moreover, he converted six of 10 break points, hitting 27 winners to 19 unforced errors.
Next, the 23-year-old will face No. 21 seed Ben Shelton, bidding to return to the championship match.
For his part, the 22-year-old American player overpowered Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(4) in a four-hour shy high-level match, advancing to his second major semifinal.
Post-match, he remarked: “Shout out Lorenzo Sonego because that was some ridiculous tennis. I’m just happy to go through to get my first win at Rod Laver Arena. It was one of my favorite matches of my career.”
The San Candido native leads Shelton 4-1 in their series.
Meanwhile, world No. 7 Novak Djokovic, eyeing to lift his 11th Australian Open trophy, continues his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam after surging to victory over third seed Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old rallied from one set down to clinch a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win after an epic three-hour and 37 minutes late-night contest, displaying a masterclass performance while managing a physical issue in his upper left leg.
“One of the most epic matches I’ve played on this court, any court really”, he asserted in his on-court interview.
Assessing the world-class encounter, he added: “Managed to play a great couple of games to end the second set, and then I saw that Carlos was hesitant from the back of the court, and I took my chances.
“Started to feel and move better. It didn’t bother me, didn’t create any hindrance toward the end of the match, only in the second set.”
The former world number one will take on second seed Alexander Zverev, who ousted world No. 11 Tommy Paul 7-6(1), 7-6(0), 2-6, 6-1 in a thrilling contest to progress into the last four for the third time at Melbourne Park.
The German has been clinical on serve, dropping his two sets en route to a ninth Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
Addressing his upcoming battle with Djokovic, the 27-year-old outlined: “I’m going to do everything I can to be in another final on Sunday. Lifting the trophy is what’s on my mind.”
“I want to achieve my dream of winning a Grand Slam, and I’m chasing that.”
Last year, he fell short in the semifinals to Daniil Medvedev after five dramatic sets.
The Paris Olympics singles gold medalist leads Zverev 8-4 in their series.