The world No. 2 set up the final-four clash with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory against Ben Shelton on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Djokovic – the 10-time Melbourne champion – sealed his spot in the semi-finals<\/a> earlier in the day after quarter-final opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while two sets ahead.Sinner is looking to become the only man other than Djokovic<\/a> to have won the Australian Open title three times in succession in the Open Era, and after suffering a third-round scare against Eliot Spizzirri, he has been resolute in his search for yet more glory down under.<\/p>\n And the four-time Grand Slam champion is relishing the opportunity to face Djokovic once again – having enjoyed a streak of five consecutive victories over the Serbian, two of which came in Grand Slam semi-finals last year.<\/p>\n “These are the moments you practise for, you wake up in the morning and look forward to playing a good match. <\/p>\n ‘Disrespectful’ – Watch as Djokovic responds to question about Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and Sinner<\/p>\n Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n “If you want to win, you have to play your best, so I’m looking forward to it. In the past, I had great lessons, the result doesn’t matter, it improves you as a result and a person.<\/p>\n “We’re so lucky to have Novak here, playing incredible tennis at his age. <\/p>\n “We play for you guys, but we also play for us, and hopefully it’s going to be a great battle out here. It’s going to be, of course, very difficult.”<\/p>\n In a rematch of last year’s semi-final, Sinner extended his string of consecutive victories over Shelton to nine, dominating from the baseline and using the pace of the American’s big serve.<\/p>\n A single break – clinched at the fourth opportunity for 3-1 – was enough to propel Sinner into a set-love lead, and there was no way through the Italian’s serve for the No. 8 seed, with the two-time defending champion crushing three love holds to close out the opener. <\/p>\n Watch as Sinner and Shelton walk out for blockbuster quarter-final clash<\/p>\n Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n Sinner, again, remained rock-solid on serve in the second – having been broken just once since the heat break, which afforded him an opportunity to recover from cramp in his third-round scare against Spizzirri.<\/p>\n The advantage once again came early, as Shelton skewed a forehand wide for break point before buckling in a tense baseline exchange. <\/p>\n Sinner was immediately made to fend off three break points, but did so nervelessly, as his charge towards the semi-finals gathered significant pace.<\/p>\n There was a momentary scare for the No. 2 when he bizarrely dropped a double fault with the ball barely reaching the net, and appeared somewhat dazed when rubbing his eyes, but he covered to seal a crucial hold which saw him move two sets ahead.<\/p>\n Shelton appeared fired-up in the third – showing some nice variation, and letting out various shouts of self-encouragement when saving two break points to keep the set on serve.<\/p>\n Watch as Sinner ‘out-classes’ Shelton to reach Australian Open semi-finals<\/p>\n Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n But, again, he simply could not find a way to neutralise Sinner’s serve, and when he was broken to 15 to allow the reigning champion to serve for the match, the conclusion was inevitable.<\/p>\n![\"picture\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-a833ffda-25e9-4610-a25f-845b37183ce2-85-2560-1440.jpeg\")
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