The world number 1 Jannik Sinner, winner of the last edition of the Australian Open, he once again reaches the final of the first Slam of the year. Beaten Shelton in three sets: 7-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Third set
Turnaround for Ben Shelton at the start of the third set: the American serves very well and at the first opportunity closes the game with a great forehand return (1-0). Complicated round of service for Sinner who, to keep serve, is forced twice to take advantage and finds himself canceling a break point to Shelton (1-1). Shelton, after the unsuccessful passage of the second set, seems to have regained confidence and holds serve at 15, entertaining the audience at Rod Laver Arena with some excellent shots (2-1). In the fourth game Shelton, also thanks to a great running forehand down the line, immediately earned two break points. The blue cancels them with a forehand pass and an excellent first serve. He then settles the score with the serve and closes bringing the score to 2-2. Very close game with Shelton serving. The American cancels two break points and comes one point from the game thanks to a backhand down the line from Sinner well outside the court. The blue, however, manages to close on the third occasion, taking a break lead (3-2). In the sixth game the world number 1 puts his foot on the accelerator and holds serve at zero to take a 4-2 lead. The inertia of the match seems to be in his favor again. Easy turn in response for Sinner who easily takes 5-2 and goes on to serve for the match.
Second set
Shelton starts the second set on serve. He leads 40-15, but then allows Sinner to take the game to the advantage. A forehand thrown into the corridor gives Sinner an immediately converted break point: 1-0 for the blue.
Sinner keeps the joke albeit with some difficulty. In fact, the blue player also finds himself having to cancel a break point to the American (2-0). In the third game, a confused and foul Shelton wasted an opportunity to close the game and close the gap, giving Sinner a double break (3-0). Sinner keeps the serve scoreless and goes ahead 4-0. Shelton, despite having yet another advantage game, manages to hold serve and stay afloat in the set (4-1). Comfortable innings for Sinner, who leads Shelton in the score (5-1).
Sinner wins the first set at tie-break 7-6 (7-2)
The match opens with Sinner serving, but Shelton immediately earns two break points. After wasting the first by digging his forehand into the net, the American converted the second to move ahead in the score (1-0). After a hard-fought game with the advantages, Shelton manages to hold the serve and extends the lead 2-0. In the third game Sinner holds serve to zero and closes the gap 2-1. In the following game, however, some too much uncertainty from Shelton on serve gave Sinner the opportunity, which he immediately seized, to counterbreak which brought the score back to parity (2-2). In the next game Sinner holds the serve and goes up 3-2. After a hard-fought game that lasted more than nine minutes, Shelton managed to keep the serve and bring the score back to 3 all. Sinner wins the seventh game quite easily (4-3). In the eighth game for the first time since the start of the match the American easily holds the serve (4-4). The ninth game, thanks to an excellent performance by Sinner on serve, slipped away quickly (5-4). Shelton holds serve at zero for the first time since the start of the match (5-5).
Two brilliant responses and an error from Sinner give Shelton two break points, which the American immediately takes advantage of by breaking the blue and moving ahead in the score (6-5). It will serve for the set. Shelton serves to win the first set. The American, however, wasted two set points and gave Sinner the counterbreak. We go to the tie-break: Shelton appears uncertain and confused at the beginning of the tie-break and Sinner easily takes the lead 5-0. The American recovers by two points, but Sinner closes 7-2 to win the first set.