Highlights: Sensational Sinner beats Shelton to line up Djokovic semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jamie Murray says Jannik Sinner is “on a different level” after he continued his imperious form at the Australian Open with victory over Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals.
Sinner, who is bidding for a third straight title in Melbourne, dispatched Shelton 6-3 6-4 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
Despite Shelton’s explosive game, Sinner has now won 22 sets in succession against the American.
“He’s on a different level,” said TNT Sports expert Murray. “Guys just can’t hang with him. Even with Shelton’s firepower it is so difficult.
“He is so good at neutralising the play and getting himself back into position in the court, and once he has a position to get his front foot forward it’s so hard for guys to get back into the rally, there is no let-up.
“The challenge against Sinner is his tempo is so high in the rally and he is so quick from side to side, and it is so difficult to deal with him once you are in a rally.”
‘We go day-by-day’ says Sinner as he ‘looks forward’ to facing Djokovic in semi-final
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Sinner next faces 10-time champion Novak Djokovic after he got “lucky” when Lorenzo Musetti withdrew from their match due to injury while leading by two sets to love.
Sinner broke Shelton’s serve once in each set and also saved all four break points he faced in another impressive showing.
TNT Sports expert Tim Henman says Sinner’s all-round game makes him so tough to beat.
“Although Shelton tried a few different things, mixing up his serve and trying to finish up a few points at the net, time and time again Sinner comes up with the answers,” said Henman.
“That’s why he is so difficult for everybody to beat on a hard court.
“Sinner is serving incredibly well and then on the return of serve, Shelton has one of the best serves out there, but Sinner is in most service games and putting the pressure on. Then on both wings he is devastating.”
Shelton had dropped just one set on his way to reaching the quarter-finals for the second year in a row.
He sent down a serve of 144 mph, the fastest of the tournament, against Sinner, but crucially couldn’t take any of the break-point chances that came his way.
‘Oh what a get!’ – Sinner with unbelievable speed to chase down drop shot
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“He has to play some of the best tennis of his life to win the baseline exchanges, and unfortunately for him when he had some second serve returns, he didn’t make his opponent play,” said Henman.
“But his game is moving in the right direction. He has reached another Grand Slam quarter-final, and he will go away and look at where he can improve to have an impact against Sinner.
“We know that Sinner is so tough, but when you have a serve like Shelton and you haven’t won a set in the last 22, he will want to put that straight next time they meet.”
Sinner, who faces Djokovic in the semi-finals on Friday, said Shelton has improved since they last met and expects him to have a “great season”.
The Italian said: “He’s improving every time I play, because he’s serving better, changing a lot the serve, the backhand has improved, as we saw today. He’s trying to be very, very aggressive.
Sinner, Musetti and Pegula star in best shots from Day 11 of Australian Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
“There are times where he changes a bit more and then times where he changes a bit less, but it’s also how you feel in that day. You cannot just close your eyes and just go for it.
“I think we are going to see a great season for him this year. Now it’s also for him, the experiences he made last year, it’s a big package also for him.
“He handles certain situations, you see he changed a bit the mentality, and he’s very eager to improve as a player. He puts a lot of work in. He has a great team behind him.
“I think he’s going to just improve, and he’s going to be every time more and more dangerous.”
The other men’s semi-final sees world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz take on third seed Alexander Zverev.
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